Challenges in ADHD Care and the Need for Development in Finland
The Synapsi ADHD network was established in 2023 to bring together all organizations interested in developing adult ADHD care and committed to open cooperation.
At the time the network was founded, practices for the care of adults experiencing concentration difficulties varied widely across and within the well-being services counties. Care pathways from initial assessment and support to diagnosis or treatment monitoring were not systematically described. Consequently, professionals lacked clear guidelines or tools to support their work. Multidisciplinary or cross-level service cooperation was inadequate, and early psychosocial support or digital solutions were not widely utilized. Furthermore, the functionality of processes was not systematically measured, which made identifying development needs difficult. Due to these challenges, adults experiencing concentration difficulties or those diagnosed with ADHD did not always receive timely support and care that met their needs.
Open Cooperation, Sharing of Good Practices, and Co-development
From the beginning, the network’s goal has been to identify local and national challenges in adult ADHD care, and to map existing solutions and co-develop new ones for the benefit of patients and to ease the work of healthcare professionals. Through regular meetings, the network has aimed to increase long-term dialogue between healthcare organizations, thereby promoting the active sharing, adoption, and standardization of good practices.
The Synapsi ADHD network was also one of the sister networks of Innokylä’s innovation and strategy network when they were piloting the sister network model. The Synapsi ADHD network is open to all actors: public, private, and third-sector organizations committed to open cooperation and willing to share their own processes with other network members. This allows the members to gain information about the operations of other regions and organizations, such as ongoing development projects. The network members can learn from each other’s trials and errors and what might be possible to test in their own area.
Network Meetings: Three Years of Long-Term Dialogue and Network Growth
The network has come together ten times so far, with the next meeting scheduled for March. Each network meeting addresses a key topic in ADHD care. For example, last May’s meeting focused on the new Current Care Guidelines (Käypä hoito -suositus) for ADHD care, featuring expert presentations and joint discussion. The meetings have also covered the entire ADHD care pathway through its various stages: initial assessment and referral criteria, diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, patient-centered goal setting, and treatment optimization and monitoring. Visual summaries of the member organizations’ ADHD processes have also been compiled for network members. Furthermore, topics have included psychosocial support solutions and HUS’s consultation practices for ADHD care.
The first network meeting included participants from six different well-being services counties. Through long-term activity, the network has grown and currently includes members from a total of 17 different well-being services counties, such as Eloisa, The Wellbeing Services County of East Uusimaa, Kainuu, the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland, Kymenlaakso, Lapha, OmaHäme, Pohde, the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Wellbeing services county of Päijät-Häme, Siun sote Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Soite, VAKE, and Varha, in addition to individual representatives from other organizations. The pharmaceutical company Takeda Oy is one of the network’s founding members and the enabler of its operations, while Vertical is responsible for the network’s maintenance and the facilitation of development work.
Topics covered at network meetings have included:
- A staggered model of psychosocial support, with practical examples
- A digital care pathway
- A neuropsychiatric clinic consultation phone for professionals
- An operations management system to support the staffing and functions in the ADHD process
- Digital medication monitoring
- Medication monitoring based on executive functions
Co-creation of Work Instructions for ADHD Medication Optimization and Long-Term Monitoring
In addition to the meetings, two workshops were organized in the autumn of 2025, aimed at the development of common treatment monitoring practices. The co-creation resulted in work instructions for both the optimization of ADHD medication and long-term monitoring to support professionals. These work instructions are freely available, and organizations can use them as standalone or integrate them into another platform in a survey format and modify them to suit their needs. The work instructions are available in the list below and can also be found from the Innokylä blog post about the ADHD network.
“Collaborative development within the network has been very important for us. We have gained a lot, especially through working in small groups trying to create new ways of working, which has supported our own development, and the national gatherings have been truly eye-opening. Within the network, we consider it essential to collaborate for the benefit of a common purpose.” – Jenny Baas and Juho-Matti Mäyrä, Team Leads/Key Users of the Pohde ADHD Digital Research Pathway, Pohde
The network has produced so far:
- Work instruction for ADHD medication optimization process
- Work instruction for long-term monitoring of ADHD medication
- Comparisons of the initial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring processes of several well-being services counties
- Mapping of the spectrum and availability of treatment options
- Mapping of ADHD process challenges and solution alternatives
- Sharing of work instructions, tools, and forms
Successful Networking Requires Long-Term Commitment and Active Coordination
A network does not run by itself; it requires someone to coordinate the activities. The Synapsi ADHD network is also supported by a small core group, which includes a Healthcare Solutions Manager from Takeda Oy and network’s Project Manager and Coordinator from Vertical, who are responsible for scheduling meetings, planning content and facilitation, network communication, and long-term development work.
Consistent and long-term maintenance and development has proven valuable, as initiating operations, experimenting with new ideas, engaging people, and finding a functional model takes time. In order for the network to genuinely produce value for its members, it is important to collect feedback, consult members, and stay informed about current topics. However, the outcome should never be considered final, but rather the best current version of a continuously evolving model.
Takeda Oy has been involved in establishing the Synapsi ADHD network because it strongly believes in the power of impactful partnerships in Finnish healthcare. Cooperation with various stakeholders enables knowledge sharing, the development of new solutions, and the dissemination of best practices. The goal is always the benefit experienced by the patient. This network provides a forum where challenges in ADHD care can be addressed together, and trust can be built among different stakeholders.
The Cornerstones of a Successful Network:
- A core team responsible for long-term coordination, development and active communication.
- Clear short- and long-term goals and feedback collection to ensure the network provides genuine value to its members.
- Regular, well-planned, and facilitated meetings that focus on topics relevant and current to the members, e.g., four two-hour meetings per year.
- Participants’ commitment to open cooperation, where everyone is willing to openly share their own processes with other members.
Liina Laukkanen, Synapsi ADHD network’s Project Manager and Coordinator, Vertical
