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0 pointsfalcolas11y ago0 comments

I understand the challenges, they are similar to those faced by the adult ADHD community. Less than 1/5 of adults with ADHD are being treated.

Our society puts so many negative connotations on the use of drugs to address mental deficiencies that even after learning how much they could help, we hesitate for fear of the peer pressure and social stigma of "popping pills" in favor of "shut up and man up".

> We're hoping that Pacifica can help bridge that gap, ideally helping people find the care that they really need.

Great! Might I recommend using your app to provide advice on how to approach discussing this issue with their GP, or even giving links to professionals in their area? Or even provide a "doctor's view" which can be passed to your GP to assist in their diagnosis?

I make these suggestions because the emphasis on the word "privately" across your website concerns me. It seems to re-enforce the negative mindset of "this is your problem, don't bother anybody else" that I saw so profoundly affect my wife.

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2 comments · 2 top-level

beermann11y ago

I love the idea of recommending how to approach this topic with a GP. We've been a little careful, as described in another comment, about crossing the line of providing medical advice. Currently, we see Pacifica as a self-help tool. We have to find the right ways to do some of this because we don't want to upset the FDA. The truth is that they have the same goals that we do, and we will try to work with them to provide the best application we can, while making sure it is safe to use.

Regarding "privately," we had a slightly different take. Because of the stigma, there are so many people that aren't seeking help. We think that providing an application that can help you understand where some of your thoughts come from might help you realize that you can start talking about this. And ultimately, our hope is that creating a consumer application that is widely used might contribute to breaking down some of those walls. It's a lofty goal, but our mission is to do what we can to combat the stigmas around mental health.

Deebot11y ago

The scary thing is that, in the context of this app, "privately" means "in the privacy of the cloud, which we have access to".