ADHD: an Australian Aboriginal perspective

Hyperactivity Deficit (ADHD) and their management of the ADHD symptoms within their community. The entireresearch process was overseen by an Aboriginal Reference Group. Participants were recruited from a metropolitanAboriginal community and they comprised of (1) Aboriginal community members; (2) Aboriginal mental healthand education professionals; and (3) Aboriginal parents of children with ADHD. All participants were parents orgrandparents. An audio-tape recorded semi-structured interview was conducted either with the individual participantor in a group of no more than 4 participants. Interview data were analysed via Nvivo 8. Preliminary results suggest thatmost Aboriginal parents accepted the biomedical model of ADHD and viewed a high level of hyperactivity as impairingon the child’s functioning and having an adverse impact on the family. Moreover, most Aboriginal parents viewed thehyperactivity behaviour as problem behaviour but not the inattentive behaviour. Most parents attributed the causalitymainly to dietary and lifestyle changes, with some others attributing causality to psychological and learning difficulties.Aboriginal parents were also more tolerant and accepting of the hyperactive behaviour seen in children and wouldonly seek medical treatment for the child as a last option. Most participants believe that a more culturally appropriateapproach, such as allowing an Aboriginal child with ADHD to have contact with the bush, is the more appropriate wayof managing ADHD