Psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed: De Goey trivialises the experience of those suffering serious mental illness

The Jordan De Goey scandal is yet another example of a sports star using mental health as a way to avoid scrutiny.

De Goey must be careful not to see the diagnosis or a good response to medication as an excuse to absolve himself of responsibility. Picture: Instagram

My field of psychiatry gets criticised for having “too many disorders”, but last time I looked, sleazy footballer syndrome hadn’t made the cut.

Collingwood footballer Jordan De Goey uses the cover of a recent ADHD diagnosis to minimise the crude gestures and shonky conduct towards women in a Bali nightclub.

It is yet another example of a sports star using mental health as a way to avoid scrutiny.

While he has since apologised and taken responsibility, his initial comments suggested he thought he was unfairly persecuted.

The diagnosis of ADHD has skyrocketed in the past decade, with a near tripling of prescription rates, according to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Poor impulse control is a common feature, something alcohol worsens.

Psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed.

Jordan De Goey partying in Bali. Picture: Instagram

TikTok videos of people cloistered at home during the pandemic claiming the diagnosis has accelerated the trend further.

Two out of three patients that attend my private practice come questioning whether they might

suffer from ADHD. The diagnosis used to be limited to children, but now there is an explosion of adult cases.

The vast majority of cases overlap with other problems, especially anxiety disorders. More often than not ADHD is an oversimplification of someone’s problems.

The accessible symptoms of being unable to focus, being a little disorganised or feeling overwhelmed during tasks are problems just about all of us can relate to.

De Goey’s initial comments suggested he thought he was unfairly persecuted. Picture: Getty

This is even more so with gadgets and multiple screens all competing for our attention. Our work desk can feel like a fighter pilot’s cockpit. We live in an age of distractibility.

Critics of the diagnosis have referred to it as the “medicalisation of underperformance” and having more to do with social ills.

It is true that in many cases the problems are related to conflicted families, strained schools or vulnerable personalities.

But given I can’t easily prescribe solutions to such problems, the pills for ADHD, known as stimulants, do seem to help many people improve their day-to-day function. The available treatments can transform lives.

But much like De Goey, we must be careful not to see the diagnosis or a good response to medication as an excuse to absolve ourselves of responsibility, be that in being better parents,

partners or athletic role models.

De Goey using a mental health diagnosis to minimise his actions is not just a cop-out, but trivialises the experience of those suffering serious mental illness.

Dr Tanveer Ahmed is a psychiatrist and author of Fragile Nation.