EP. 135: ADHD, Suicide Prevention and Audio Journaling with Grace L’Orange ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

This week Tracy welcomes Grace L’Orange to episode #135 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women. Grace is a school psychologist, behavior specialist, and suicide prevention coordinator working in public education with a B.S. in Psychology and an advanced Education Specialist degree in School Psychology. Grace is passionate about equity, inclusion, and advocacy for all students, especially those with disabilities and other differences. In addition to her direct work with students, she collaborates with and educates other adults to better understand and address the specific impacts these differences have on daily life.   Grace recently implemented systemic changes in her district by developing updated policies and procedures for special education and suicide prevention/intervention focusing on equity and best practice. She serves as Director-At-Large on the board for her state school psychologist association. She also collaborates with the broader community through the Suicide Prevention Coalition in her county. Initially drawn to school psychology due to the school struggles of her brother with ADHD, little did Grace know that she would be diagnosed much later at the age of 32. Since then, Grace has been integrating this new ADHD facet of her life in the context of being an educator working with students with disabilities and behavior challenges.   In this episode Grace shares:  The circumstances surrounding her ADHD diagnosis What has changed since she was diagnosed  How learning about her ADHD shifted her understanding of how ADHD presents in girls and helped her better notice symptoms that are often overlooked in female students Information surrounding the alarming number of ADHD women who have attempted suicide and the societal factors that may contribute to these high rates Signs of suicidal ideation to look out for and ways you can responsibly help someone who may be at risk (resources listed down below) How she uses audio journaling to move past perfectionism, externalize her thoughts in order to process them, and speak more kindly to herself  Her key to living successfully with ADHD   Resources:    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255 Mental Health Crisis Response Program: 1-888-989-9990 (for parents of children through age 17) Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ youth) Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) online training for anyone: Hopesquad Prevention: A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD by Sari Solden, MS and Michelle Frank, PsyD (book mentioned)Today, I’m promoting my son Marcus, an NYU graduate, skilled in digital advertising and tech marketing. He's planning a solo trip to South America and seeking job opportunities in New York City. Known for his resilience and research abilities, Marcus is ready to contribute to any team. If you have leads, please reach out. Thanks for supporting this unique request. Now, back to our show.
Hi there, Tracy here. There are many misconceptions about ADHD, particularly that it equates to laziness or lack of motivation. In "ADHD for Smart Ass Women," I offer strategies tailored for ADHD minds to help leverage strengths and overcome challenges. Support the community by purchasing the book and sharing a review, helping spread crucial information and empower others.