Objective: Mental health care professionals are poorly trained in intellectual disability, and workers in intellectual disability (ID) services are similarly unskilled in mental health care principles. Consequently, the mental health needs of adults with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders are not being adequately met.
Method: A three day training programme was designed to redress this situation and encourage these separate services to work collaboratively. The programme was evaluated with 30 participants drawn from MH and ID services.
Results: Evaluations conducted pre- and post-training indicated increases in participants' confidence in working in and knowledge of DD, and ability to complete study assessments. Post training letters written by participants to their managers indicated their commitment to educate their co-workers in DD, learn more about DD, change their clinical practices, and collaborate with staff from the other service.
Conclusions: This preliminary evaluation suggested the promise of positive outcomes for people with DD following joint training of staff from ID and MH services.
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