Current Representation of People With Intellectual Disability in Australian Mental Health Policy: The Need for Inclusive Policy Development

Abstract

People with intellectual disability in Australia experience poor mental health, are underrepresented in mental health policy, and encounter major barriers in accessing mental health services and treatments. This study interrogated the current representation of people with intellectual disability and recommended strategies to enhance the inclusion of intellectual disability in mental health policy. A policy analysis framework was developed that included context, stakeholders, process, and content. Nine pieces of Australian mental health legislation and 37 mental health policy documents were analyzed using the framework. Fifteen of the 37 documents included mention of intellectual disability with limited attention to the specific mental health needs of people with intellectual disability and mental illness. Only two documents identified specific strategies or measurable actions and targets to improve the access of people with intellectual disability and mental illness to mental health services. The documents’ strengths that may be applied to develop inclusive intellectual disability mental health policy included being values‐based, recognizing diversity, taking a life‐course approach, focusing on workforce development, and ensuring checks and balances. An inclusive approach to the development and implementation of intellectual disability mental health policy will best meet the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual disability. An inclusive policy approach will be based on a sound evidence‐base and include a comprehensive understanding of the context in which the policy is developed; consultation with key stakeholders including people with intellectual disability and mental illness, their family and carers, and those who work with them; cross‐sector collaboration and workforce training. An inclusive approach to the development and implementation of intellectual disability mental health policy using an integrated knowledge translation approach will address the current lack of attention to the important area of how to best meet the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual disability.

Health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability in New South Wales, Australia: a data linkage cohort

“…Specific consideration of people with ID in Australian mental health policy is missing. This is a significant exclusion, given the very high rate of mental illness of up to 50%,5 9 reflecting and contributing to major barriers in access to mental health services and treatments 10 11…”

Getting our voice heard: empowering people with a learning disability to influence adult safeguarding policy

“…Despite ratification of the UNCRPD and duties to involve service users, policy influence by people with a learning disability is limited (Robinson and Chenoweth, 2011). Although some progress has been made, people with a learning disability continue to be generally under-represented in politics and policymaking, even when the focus is disability (Dew et al, 2018;Irvine, 2017).…”

Representation of people with intellectual disability in Australian mental health policy

“…Indeed, Australian intellectual disability mental health policy falls short of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and lags behind leading international standards in intellectual disability health policy. A recently published in-depth analysis and review of current Australian mental health policy to assess the representation of people with intellectual disability by our group (Dew et al, 2018) found limited inclusion of this population. We identified 37 relevant mental health policy documents and less than half of these documents mentioned people with intellectual disability.…”

“…The estimated prevalence of intellectual disability is about 1-2% of the population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2003), yet the mental health needs of this minority group are substantial. Across the lifespan, people with intellectual disability exhibit vulnerability to common mental disorders, with an estimated 30-50% experiencing mental illness (Einfeld et al, 2011). Notably, people with intellectual disability are two to three times more likely than the general population to develop schizophrenia, and its onset occurs earlier than for other Australians.…”