My name is Gloria Haro, I am from Jalisco, Mexico. When I was 41 years old, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessional traits, and a tendency to dysphoria. I am a survivor of car accidents, and excesses in alcohol and tobacco. In addition, I suffer from allergies, astigmatism and myopia.
I open my heart in this space so that you know what it is to live with a mental disorder and the difficulties that this implies in me and in the people around me, and to share my calls for change.
21 January 2022
I was not stupid, I had a brain that works differently
I went to a private altruistic neuropsychologist for an ADHD test and it was POSITIVE like my son's! This added to also living with anxiety, obsessive traits and a tendency to dysphoria. I felt relieved to verify it, but anxious about paying for the treatment, a psychiatrist, psychological therapy, physical activity... and all for both of us. I am a single mother and there is no place in my city to receive this comprehensive support. I only have social security coverage (IMSS) and it does not cover all medications.
"The Angel who has taken care of me has had a lot of work".
Since I open my eyes the challenges begin, I only hope to return home with good, a successful day is a day without setbacks, a perfect day is a day without silly mistakes. I can't help but feel this way.
21 January 2022
I feel alone with this
The cost of care for my condition and my son’s is beyond my means, as there is no coverage from IMSS. I need 40mg of Ritalin a day, as well as antidepressants and clonazepam, plus a psychiatric consultation that adds up to $2,780.00 peso ($135.75 USD) per month. This is not counting the cost of psychological care. For my son, his consultation, medication (atomoxetine) plus a psychologist, is $1,900.00 peso ($92.78 USD) per month. I continue to seek solutions to make our care more affordable.
People with mental health conditions often need three times as many tools to do a common task, in addition to the high cost of maintaining stable mental and physical health.
21 January 2022
It's never too late to improve your quality of life
My family has a lot of experience when it comes to living with NCDs. My father lived with alcohol and tobacco addiction, and undiagnosed ADHD and schizophrenia. His brother supported him financially for his psychiatric treatment before he died as a result of distraction. My retired mother is living with depression, and thankfully is able to receive coverage for her medication through the IMSS. I wish mental health conditions were seen as normal, and quality medical and psychological services were available. However, there are prejudices, lack of interest and lack of information.
I am with my son and my father's brother, I gave him the repository "THE VOICE AND THE PROPOSAL OF THOSE WHO LIVE WITH ADHD and NCDs". He also suffers from memory loss, and was interested in seeking treatment and a diagnosis to improve his quality of life.
21 January 2022
There's a lot to do and learn in Mexico
Through my lived experience and my participation as a spokesperson with México Salud Hable, I have learned that the most common challenges faced by people living with a mental disorder are the lack of timely diagnosis and specialized care. This makes it 2 to 3 times more likely that we will develop comorbidities and addictions, because they provide relief from our symptoms. Mental health services are currently expensive and few are available in Mexico. It is urgent to implement a comprehensive health system for the different needs without the costs being borne by those affected.
We are in the Federal Chamber of Deputies in the year 2020 in times of pandemic, federal deputies, members of the Mexico Saludhable Coalition, a young success case with ADHD, my son and I as spokespersons asking for help in visibility and care of the disorder in Mexico.
21 January 2022
May my experience serve to help others
The experience of living with ADHD and other mental health conditions has greatly impacted me and those around me. It is critical to address gaps in mental health and NCD services as a whole.
I call on the government of Mexico to:
- Increase social awareness campaigns around mental health conditions.
- Establish a center specializing in multimodal mental health that includes medical, psychological, and pedagogical care, and education for parents.
- Build capacity for the provision of diagnostic services, to ensure timely care.
- Provide economic support packages for the families of people living with NCDs to ensure therapeutic compliance.
- Implement UHC for the care of all NCDs and mental health conditions.
Nothing has been easy, representing a community having my own difficulties is a great challenge. I just hope to stay motivated and beat procrastination.
NCD Diaries
The experience of living with ADHD and other mental health conditions has greatly impacted me and those around me. It is critical to address gaps in mental health and NCD services as a whole, particularly when it comes to access and affordability of services in Mexico.
Gloria Haro, lived experience of neurological disorder, Mexico
About NCD DIARIES
The NCD Diaries use rich and immersive multimedia approaches to share lived experiences to drive change, using a public narrative framework.
