New consultation opens to inform guidance for services to people with intellectual disabilities

We have launched a new public consultation to gather views, insights, experiences and suggestions to help develop new guidance tailored specifically for providers of mental health services to people with intellectual disabilities.

The guidance document will apply to providers in all mental health services, including inpatient mental health services, community residences, and community mental health services. The aim of the consultation is to identify important areas that the new guidance should cover, address challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities and to help service providers adhere to evidence-based best practices.

The guidance will aim to ensure that staff members in services across the country have access to current and up to date views, evidence and best practices that will help them to ensure that they are providing the best person-centre support that they can for people with intellectual disabilities. This will include key findings from national and international literature as well as lived experience from individuals.

We would like to hear from all interested parties as part of the consultation, but particularly from people with an intellectual disability who have experience of using mental health services in Ireland; and those close to them such as family members or carers. We also welcome the views of mental health professionals  or other persons who have particular expertise in providing mental health care to people with intellectual disabilities.

To learn more, click on the link: Public Consultation to inform the development of guidance for staff working in mental health services who provide a service to persons with intellectual disabilities.