Our projects | Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN)

Contraception use in women with intellectual disability

Our project aims to examine patterns of prescribed contraception use and disparities between women with and without intellectual disability. We will consult with women with lived experience of intellectual disability and contraception use, as well as carers involved in contraception decision-making, as community research advisors throughout the project.

Design and delivery of education and training – Intellectual disability and mental health: Specialist team and training program

The project involves the design and creation of education/training materials that builds capacity of general and mental health staff within NSLHD, as well as community managed organisations, working with people with intellectual disability. The work within this project forms part of the Intellectual Disability Mental Health Specialist Team and Training Program (STP).

Health profiles, health services use and transition to dementia in individuals with self-harm

Dementia and deliberate self-harm represent substantial public health burdens in the older population. However, the health outcomes, referral pathways and predictors of death are not well understood. Late-life depression has been linked to dementia and deliberate self-harm. The growing aging population, along with the high prevalence of depression in older adults has significant implications for the planning and equipping of health services to meet the needs of affected individuals.

Improving palliative care services for people with an intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability are experiencing increasing rates of life-limiting illnesses such as respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases and cancer, but are under-referred to palliative care services.

Intellectual Disability Health Education

The e-Learning site www.idhealtheducation.edu.au was launched on 22 July 2013. The site is an interactive education resource for everyone with an interest in intellectual disability mental health. Under the ‘Health Professionals’ section, there are modules for health and mental health practitioners. Under ‘Disability Professionals, there are modules for paid disability service providers.

Intellectual Disability Mental Health Fellowships

3DN has assisted several trainee psychiatrists in obtaining an in depth 1 year training experience in intellectual disability and mental health. These Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis by the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, and the majority have been funded by Aging Disability and Home Care NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services. They provide a salary for a senior psychiatry trainee for a 12 month (6 month for forensic fellows) in depth immersion in intellectual disability psychiatry.

A screenshot of the intellectual disability mental health connect website home page

Intellectual Disability Mental Health Service Pathway Tool

Our research shows that the mental health workforce is ill-equipped to meet the mental health needs of people with intellectual disability, with staff receiving little education around making necessary adaptations to provide quality care for this group. Similarly, at a systems level, there is poor delineation of responsibilities and interagency pathways between different government services.

A child with Down Syndrome playing with a red toy

Intellectual disability mental health training framework for child and youth mental health services

Children and young people with intellectual disability are at significantly greater risk of having mental disorders than children without intellectual disability.

Measuring Outcomes That Matter: Valued Contribution Project

People with disability make important contributions to our society. We are working to develop measures of those contributions. The work will challenge deficit-based paradigms and be pivotal in debates regarding NDIS assessments and funding.

A doctor tends to a patient with other staff and the patient's supporter standing in the background

NHMRC Partnership Project: Preventive healthcare for People with Intellectual Disability

Our Partnership Team is conducting a co-designed research project that aims to improve access to, and quality of preventive health care across the lifespan for people with intellectual disability.

Understanding the health and support needs of younger people with disabilities discharged from hospital to residential aged care

It is well acknowledged that inappropriate placement of younger people (aged <65 years) in residential aged care (RAC), often due to a lack of other options, contributes to a number of significant issues, including social isolation, lack of appropriate recreational activities, and a lack of su

Using big data to understand the health status, service use, and service pathways of people with less common types of dementia

People living with dementia experience high rates of mental and physical health problems. It is important that the health system is prepared to meet their needs. Most research has focused on the health of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.

Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN)

Projects

Contraception use in women with intellectual disability

Design and delivery of education and training – Intellectual disability and mental health: Specialist team and training program

Health profiles, health services use and transition to dementia in individuals with self-harm

Improving palliative care services for people with an intellectual disability

Intellectual Disability Health Education

Intellectual Disability Mental Health Fellowships

Intellectual Disability Mental Health Service Pathway Tool

Intellectual disability mental health training framework for child and youth mental health services

Measuring Outcomes That Matter: Valued Contribution Project

NHMRC Partnership Project: Preventive healthcare for People with Intellectual Disability

Understanding the health and support needs of younger people with disabilities discharged from hospital to residential aged care

Using big data to understand the health status, service use, and service pathways of people with less common types of dementia

'Get Healthy!' Improving physical activity and nutritional outcomes for adults with intellectual disability

A historical perspective of intellectual disability mental health services in NSW

Accessible Mental Health Services for People with an Intellectual Disability: A Guide for Providers

Addressing preventable disease burden to improve health outcomes for people with schizophrenia and related psychoses

Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood

Development of Professional Learning – Mental Health Supports in Victorian Specialist Schools