Key Messages

Pre-pandemic, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were at increased risk for mental health problems, with over 40% having a psychiatric disorder diagnosis. COVID-19 has made the challenges already faced by this population in accessing and benefiting from mental health services and supports worse. There is an urgent need to address the unique mental health needs of adults with IDD during COVID-19. This requires training for health care/social service providers, families and individuals themselves. This study should build our national capacity to address mental health issues through virtual courses offered to service providers, families, and self-advocates.

Lay Summary

We completed our three Cycle 1 courses and recruited for and launched our Cycle 2 courses for service providers, families and self-advocates to build capacity to support mental health during the pandemic among adults with IDD in Canada. To date we have collected data from 86 families, 26 self-advocates, and 88 service providers across 2 cycles of the course. We are teaching a consistent curriculum, integrating COVID news updates and mindfulness practices. In addition to regular updates with scientists, clinicians, advocates and collaborating organizations, we are sharing lessons learned via website (Cycle 1, Cycle 2) newsletter, blog and social media.

Author(s)

• Nominated Principal Applicant: Dr. Yona Lunsky, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

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Population

Chronic Disease and/or Mental Illness, Children, Youth and Families

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.