By: Grace Kendzior, LEND Social Work Trainee
Image Description: Clip art picture of a brain and the words “Mental Health Is Important”
I am currently completing my Master of Social Work degree at the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a part of my training, I am interning on a research study called the B.E.S.T. Study. The B.E.S.T. Study is testing a program to determine if a care coordination program that helps youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with mood and stress is better than a care coordination program that directs youth with IDD to outside providers to help with mood and stress.
My internship experience has led me to realize just how under-studied and underserved individuals with IDD are in the mental health field. People with IDD experience the same types of mental health disorders as the general population. These include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder to name a few. Individuals with IDD are also more likely to experience traumatic events like abuse and neglect compared to individuals without IDD. However, most mental health professionals receive little to no training on working with this population.
People with IDD deserve the same access to mental health care that the rest of the population is afforded. Future advocacy in the mental health field should be directed toward training practitioners on working with individuals with IDD to make mental health care more accessible to the IDD population.
References:
Mental Health Wellness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Texas Health and Human Services. (n.d.). https://www.hhs.texas.gov/about/process-improvement/improving-services-texans/behavioral-health-services/mental-health-wellness-people-intellectual-developmental-disabilities#:~:text=Recognizing%20the%20behavioral%20health%20needs,will%20support%20resiliency%20and%20recovery.
Image Source:
https://www.charities.org/news/may-mental-health-month-raise-awareness-erase-stigma-and-get-support
