Child and Youth Intellectual Disability Mental Health

Associate Professor David Dossetor and Louisa Carroll from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network share their knowledge on the treatment of mental health conditions in young people with intellectual disability. Interventions such as skill building and parent skills training are discussed as well as the interplay between pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. We also delve into the measurement of treatment gains and the importance of understanding a young person’s baseline. 

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

Dr Meena Rattan, staff specialist paediatrician from the central coast, shares her experience working in multi-disciplinary teams. Our conversation covers collaborating with other professionals and how to navigate different service approaches to best meet the needs of young people with intellectual disability and their families.

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

Transitioning from paediatric to adult health services can be a significant milestone for young people and their families. Rachael Havrlant, from the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Transition Care Network, discusses the elements of a good transition for young people with intellectual disability.

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

In this episode Associate Professor David Dossetor and Anita Shimmins from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network join us to explore how assessment practices can be thoughtfully adapted when working with young people with intellectual disability. We discuss information gathering, selecting appropriate assessment measures, making reasonable adjustments and other key elements of a comprehensive assessment. The conversation also covers differential diagnosis, such as distinguishing psychiatric conditions from behaviours of concern. 

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources. 

In this episode we speak with Professor Valsamma Eapen, Chair of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNSW and Head of the Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry South West Sydney. Professor Eapen talks us through what behaviours of concern are, reasons why they might occur, and describes some strategies for managing these behaviours in young people with intellectual disability.

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

In this episode we speak with Katherine Shannon. Katherine is a senior allied health clinician with a background in speech pathology. She works within the Specialist Intellectual Disability Health Team in the Western New South Wales Local Health District.

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

Jodie Caruana and Tania Vannitamby from the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Hub at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network discuss the importance of taking a holistic approach when working with young people with intellectual disability. Our conversation covers the bi-directional relationship between carer wellbeing and a young person’s mental wellbeing, listening to what the needs of the family are and various evidence-based treatment programs for parents and carers. 

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.

In this episode we speak with Associate Professor David Dossetor and Hadia Baassiri from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network about factors that influence the quality of life of young people with intellectual disability and co-occurring mental health conditions. We also discuss important considerations when working with young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Go to 3dn.unsw.edu.au/idmh-cymhs-training for more information and resources.