Student Health Plan to Offer Free ADHD Assessments From Trimester Two

Dan Moskovitz 

Student Health is planning to introduce free ADHD (Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder) diagnoses and prescriptions for students from trimester two—in a move it says could remove a major financial barrier to care. 

ADHD symptoms include inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can make sustained academic work difficult and leave university students particularly affected. 

Until recently, only psychologists and psychiatrists could diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication. Rule changes now allow trained general practitioners (GPs) and nurse practitioners to do so—but just because they legally can, doesn’t mean they know how. 

“Our doctors and nurse practitioners have to undertake specific training to learn how to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication safely,” Student Health Director Kevin Rowlatt said. 

“It still takes four to five hours per patient to diagnose, prescribe, and follow up effectively.” 

Rowlatt said he is aiming for the service to begin in trimester two while Mauri Ora ensured the clinic can absorb demand without extending wait times for other appointments. That will likely require additional staff, which has yet to be funded, though Rowlatt said he is confident of securing it. 

Equally, Mauri Ora is intending to provide the service for free, which could save students thousands of dollars. 

Law and sociology student Karmyn Gunn said her diagnosis required a referral from a friend, a six-month wait, and about $1200, wiping out her savings in the process. 

But she says the medication changed her ability to study. 

“My whole schooling life, I had been thinking there was something wrong with me,” Gunn said. 

“It’s like trying to hold slime in your hands when everyone else has a container to hold it in. Ok, why isn’t this staying there? Why does everyone else have a container?” 

Rowlatt compared ADHD diagnoses to gender-affirming healthcare, saying both produce “fantastic” wellbeing outcomes when accessible.

“I think it will be a really positive change for students to be able to access an [ADHD] assessment in primary care. We know a referral to a psychiatrist may have significant wait times,” he said.

“Furthermore, if students can access it here, through someone they know, they don’t have to repeat their story to a stranger.

“Primary care welcomes this change and is quite excited that we’re able to do this. It’s just going to take time to set up and we want to ask for a bit of patience because we want it to be safe.” 

Outside tertiary study, ADHD assessments typically still cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. When asked by Salient if there had been any consideration of funding ADHD assessments, the Ministry of Health did not directly respond. 

“By creating opportunities for more clinicians to offer this service, we expect availability to increase over time and for patients to have more choice in the market,” a spokesperson said.