Blog

By Hannah Wahl

When most people think of ADHD, they picture a little boy who can’t sit still, interrupts the teacher, or gets in trouble at school. This might be how ADHD looks for many people, but it doesn’t encompass everyone’s experience. ADHD can look like daydreaming, forgetfulness, difficulty staying organized, or feeling constantly overwhelmed. 

Gender’s Role in ADHD Diagnosis

On average, girls are more likely to present with “inattentive symptoms” rather than stereotypical “hyperactive symptoms.” They may be labeled as lazy, shy, disorganized, chatty, or anxious rather than evaluated for ADHD. Some girls and women also learn to hide or “mask” their symptoms by overpreparing or overcompensating, which can look like perfectionism, good grades, and strict routines. Because of this, girls with ADHD are often underdiagnosed.

How Race Plays a Role 

Research shows that Black and Latino children are less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than their White peers reporting the same symptoms and level of functioning. Black children are more likely to receive labels like “defiant” or “aggressive,” even though their reported behaviors often align with ADHD symptoms. Many factors—including how adults interpret a child’s behavior—contribute to these disparities. For Black girls, the intersection of race and gender can create even more barriers to recognition and support.

Why This Matters 

When people with ADHD go undiagnosed, they often internalize feelings of shame from being labeled “lazy,” “irresponsible,” or “not trying hard enough.” They believe they are inherently “bad,” even though ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the ability to regulate attention, organize, control impulses, and manage daily tasks. ADHD does not always look disruptive, and it does not disappear simply because someone is intelligent, successful, or skilled at hiding their struggles.

ADHD does not have one look, personality, or presentation. Accessing proper diagnosis and care can reduce shame and empower individuals to thrive.

References

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37595343/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34231220/

3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35147240/

By Mindy Laraoco

This year on October 10, 2026, is World Mental Health Day and with this, comes an opportunity for us to check in with each other and ourselves about mental health. Discussions about how we’re doing, whether we’re doing well, struggling, or anything in between, can provide validation, support, and a sense of camaraderie. However, sometimes it can be hard knowing how to approach others, even if our intentions are to make sure they are okay. 

So how can we start conversations about mental health? Here are some tips: 

➻ Start Anywhere

Beginning a conversation with the intention to check in with someone about their mental health does not mean that you have to dive right into asking deep questions. It can be helpful to think that the beginning of those conversations are akin to just starting a conversation in general. Opening a conversation with “How’s it going?” can be a great starting point to check in with someone. Here are some other conversation helpers that can keep a conversation flowing: 

• It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, how have things been on your end? 
• Anything exciting or interesting happen since we’ve last seen each other? 
• What have you been up to lately? 

You could also consider opening up about some of your personal struggles that you’re comfortable sharing in order to signal that you’re also open to listening. An important part of these conversations is letting the other person know that you’re there to listen if needed. 

If you are wanting to start a conversation with someone that you know is struggling, it might be helpful to have a more direct conversation start such as: 

• I’ve noticed that you’ve been acting differently lately, is something going on that you’d like to talk about? 
• I’ve been worried about you and I want to be able to provide support, what can I do? 
• If you’re not comfortable talking with me, is there someone else that you can turn to? 

➻ Be Open 

Depending on the situation or person that you are wanting to talk with, different approaches can be used. However, whether or not a conversation is had, letting others know that you are a safe person to speak to and are willing to provide support if needed can help someone else feel a lot less lonely. This can be a key factor in providing support. Checking in with someone does not always need to result in a conversation being had, but reminding them that there is the space to have one, if needed. Meeting a loved one where they are comfortable, can be a powerful tool to help provide support. 

➻ Take Moments to Check In 

Taking moments throughout the week to check in with each other can be a great way to support one another and start conversations about mental health. Using some of the conversation starters listed above, or even your own that you create, can be helpful in keeping up with one another’s experiences and feelings. This can also help check ins, and therefore conversations about mental health, become more regular! 

Conversations about mental health can feel daunting, but with time and effort can also become regular check in points. They can provide support, validation, and community with others and allow us to feel less alone. This World Mental Health Day, consider having these conversations to strengthen your relationships with those around you.

It’s easy to fall into a routine where life feels like one long list of things you have to respond to.

Work needs your attention. Your family needs something. There are bills to pay, errands to run, messages to answer, and responsibilities that never seem to end.

Before you know it, months or even years can pass without stopping to ask a bigger question:

Am I actually building the life I want?

Designing your life doesn’t mean having every detail planned out. It means becoming more intentional about where you’re going, what matters to you, and how you want your everyday life to feel.

Here are six questions that can help you get started.

1. What gives my life a sense of purpose?

Purpose doesn’t have to mean changing the world or pursuing one huge mission.

It could come from raising your family, building a business, helping others, creating something meaningful, learning, teaching, travelling, or contributing to your community.

Think about the moments when you feel most fulfilled.

What are you doing? Who are you with? What makes those moments meaningful?

Understanding what gives you purpose can make it easier to decide where you want to invest your time and energy.

2. What matters most to me?

Your values act like a compass.

Maybe you value freedom, family, stability, creativity, connection, growth, adventure, health, or independence.

The important part is identifying your values rather than simply following what other people expect from you.

Once you know what matters most, look at your current life. Are your choices actually reflecting those values?

If family is your biggest priority but work consumes nearly every waking hour, for example, there may be an opportunity to make some changes.

3. What would my ideal ordinary day look like?

Instead of imagining the perfect vacation or winning the lottery, picture a regular Tuesday.

Where would you wake up?

What kind of work would you do?

Who would you spend time with?

How busy would your schedule be?

What would you do in the evening?

This exercise can be surprisingly helpful because most of our lives are made up of ordinary days. Creating a life you enjoy often means designing those everyday moments rather than constantly waiting for something exciting to happen.

4. What am I doing simply because I think I’m supposed to?

Sometimes we follow a path without consciously choosing it.

We pursue a certain career because it seems practical. We stay incredibly busy because productivity feels like success. We say yes because we don’t want to disappoint anyone.

Ask yourself whether the things taking up your time are things you genuinely want.

You don’t necessarily need to eliminate every obligation. But recognizing the difference between what you choose and what you’ve simply accepted can give you more control over your direction.

5. What am I avoiding?

Big questions can be uncomfortable.

It’s often easier to stay busy, scroll through your phone, watch another show, or focus on everyone else’s problems than to think about what you really want.

Ask yourself what you’ve been putting off.

Maybe there’s a career move you keep thinking about. A conversation you need to have. A goal you haven’t started. Or a part of your life that hasn’t felt right for a while.

You don’t have to solve everything immediately. Simply acknowledging what you’ve been avoiding is a meaningful first step.

6. What is one small change I can make now?

Designing your life doesn’t require completely reinventing yourself overnight.

In fact, small changes are often more realistic.

Maybe you protect one evening a week for yourself. Start exercising again. Apply for one new job. Take a course. Spend more time with someone important to you. Start saving toward a goal. Or finally begin the project you’ve been talking about for years.

Choose one action that moves your everyday life a little closer to the life you pictured.

You Don’t Need the Entire Plan

You probably won’t have perfect answers to all six questions, and your answers will likely change over time.

That’s okay.

The goal isn’t to create a flawless five-year plan. It’s to become more intentional about the choices you’re making today.

Life will always contain unexpected events, responsibilities, and circumstances outside your control. But within those realities, there are often more opportunities to make deliberate choices than we realize.

Instead of only asking, “What is happening to me?”

Try asking:

“What do I want to create from here?”

That question alone can change the direction of what comes next.

By: Emily Walden, PhD

Immediately contact 911, 988, or visit your nearest emergency room to access support for any current suicidal ideation or crisis needs.

Oregon ranks far above the national average for suicide deaths of youth, and rates have only decreased in the last few years for those who are white, indicating a strong need for additional support for individuals from marginalized racial and ethnic groups.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) provides suicide prevention and intervention resources and programs by county in Oregon, along with monthly and quarterly data on emergency room and urgent care visits for suicidal ideation/behaviors. Per the most recent data, from July 2025 through June 2026, there was a monthly average of 474 visits to the ER for individuals 17 and under across Oregon. National reporting from The Trevor Project indicates that, due to systemic prejudice and other external factors, including discrimination, suicide behaviors occur significantly more frequently for LGBTQ+ youth, especially those who are BIPOC.

The following resources provide parents/caregivers or any adults working with children and teens with intervention considerations:

• NAMI Suicide Prevention Month (Includes a toolkit and national resources that parents/caregivers can use to help begin a conversation with children and teens on discussing suicidal behaviors.)
• Supporting Kids’ Mental Health: A Guide for Parents (Provides videos to help parents/caregivers talk with their children about mental health needs, models discussing anxiety and depression, and explains how they can seek additional support.)
• Kids Mental Health Foundation (Gives evidence-based, in-depth articles on aspects of suicidal ideation or self-harm, how to help in responding to these behaviors, and ways to support children in building resilience.)
• Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do (Specific strategies for how parents/caregivers can respond in the moment of a crisis, signs to look for, and lived experiences of teens who have survived experiencing suicidal ideation.)

Children and teens can benefit from additional resources, including:

• YouthLine (Gives call, text, chat, and email options for children and teens to seek out peer and adult support for mental health struggles. Teens can also choose to volunteer for peer-to-peer support.)
• We R Native (Provides resources for Native children and teens, including mental health support online and other resources.)
• The Trevor Project (Provides support for children and teens, especially those who are LGBTQ+, in working through anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Trained counselors are available 24/7. Online community support is also available for teens to connect with other teens in a safe and affirming space.)
• Black Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition (BYSPC) (Provides space, events, and mental health support especially for Black children and teens in Oregon.)
• Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide (Through the National Association of School Psychologists, provides strategies teens can use if they are worried about a friend or peer.)

Therapists may especially find the following resources useful:

• Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention (Through the American Academy of Pediatrics, this provides prevention and intervention considerations as found through research for recognizing children and teens who may be at risk for suicide and how to intervene.)
• Lines for Life (Includes suicide prevention and postvention programs available locally in Oregon, as well as training resources.)