Projects | Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN)

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

Adults with intellectual disability experience high rates of potentially preventable lifestyle related illnesses; yet remain poorly engaged in healthy lifestyle interventions.

A historical perspective of intellectual disability mental health services in NSW

Historically, public services for people with an intellectual disability (ID) were delivered through institutional models of care.

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

The Guide has been developed to provide a national framework of understanding and action for frontline mental health service providers with respect to people with an intellectual disability.

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

People with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders are more likely to experience additional health problems and are more likely to die at a younger age than people without mental health problems.

An Intellectual Disability Mental Health Training Framework: An Approach to Continuing Professional Development

In Australia there is currently a paucity of educational opportunities for mental health professionals in the area of intellectual disability mental health. For example there is:

Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood

Researchers at the UNSW and the Autism CRC are seeking volunteer research participants to learn about life in adulthood for people on the autism spectrum. We are looking for both autistic AND non-autistic adults who are 25 years or older, as well as carers / close family members of autistic adults to take part in a questionnaire study. Click here to register to participate.

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

3DN received funding to develop an intellectual disability mental health training program for Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Equipping Future Psychiatrists to Meet the Mental Health Needs of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability

Psychiatrists have a key role within the mental health workforce to deliver quality mental health care to people with intellectual and developmental disability and co-occurring mental ill health.

General practice and the delivery of primary health care to people with intellectual disability – problems managed and treatment provided

This project involves an analysis of the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) data set (January 2003-December 2012) to identify: the problems and disorders for which people with ID seek medical and mental health care in Australia, the way in which the problems and disorders are man

ID 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.

IDMH 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 ID psychiatry.

Improving palliative care services for people with an intellectual disability

People with ID 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 Mental Health (IDMH) Data Linkage Project

People with intellectual disability (ID) are a minority group who experience very poor mental health status, major barriers in access to mental health services and treatments, and an impoverished service system characterised by poor cross-sector coordination and poor preparedness of staff to meet

Intellectual Disability Mental Health Core Competency Project

This project involves a number of components aimed at determining the current capacity of the NSW mental health workforce in the area of intellectual disability mental health, and to define the core attributes that they require to deliver a quality mental health service that meets the needs of pe

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.

Making health information accessible for people with an intellectual disability

People with an intellectual disability can experience communication difficulties, and these difficulties have been identified as a barrier to accessing and participating in health care. Accessible health-related information is important for supporting the best health outcomes for people with an intellectual disability.

MySigns – An app to facilitate mental health assessment of people with intellectual disability

On 13^th August 2020, The Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry launched MySigns, a web application that can be used to support mental health assessment of people with intellectual disability

National Health & Medical Research Council Partnerships for Better Health Project, Improving Mental Health Outcomes for People with an Intellectual Disability