Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health

What Young Adults Want YOU to Know 
Greetings!
The MT-TIRC Advisory Board Mental Health Work Group recently released their draft brochure, Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health: What Young Adults Want YOU to Know [PDF]. Work Group members invite you to take a look at the brochure and let them know what you think.
BACKGROUND

The MT-TIRC Advisory Board was formed in 2007 to provide direction to the Rural Institute Transition and Employment Projects. The 15-20 member advisory board is comprised of at least 51% young people (ages 13-30) with developmental disabilities. Other members represent such groups as parents/family members of individuals with developmental disabilities; the Developmental Disabilities Program and community rehabilitation providers; Disability Rights Montana; the Office of Public Instruction; Vocational Rehabilitation; Parents, Let's Unite for Kids; the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities; the Montana Youth Leadership Forum; schools; and the Social Security Administration.

 

Youth Advisory Board members form work groups to tackle specific projects (conferences, t-shirt sales, Emerging Leader recruitment, logo design, etc.) During a board meeting over a year ago, one of the board members spoke passionately about the need for a mental health work group. Young adults with developmental disabilities face the same mental health challenges as their peers, but too often their symptoms are ignored, misdiagnosed, or written off as "part of the developmental disability." They may suffer for years without proper mental health care.

 

The Mental Health Work Group was formed, and immediately began developing a list of skills a mental health practitioner should have when working with young adults who have both a developmental disability and a mental health challenge. That skills list has been transformed into a handout that work group members hope will raise awareness of the mental health needs of youth with developmental disabilities. (Thank you to PLUK, Parents Let's Unite for Kids, for formatting the brochure!) For mental health professionals, the list might suggest areas where additional skill honing is needed. For young adults with developmental disabilities and mental health concerns, the list might become a tool to help identify a mental health professional to assist in their care.

 

The MT-TIRC Advisory Board Mental Health Work Group members invite you to share the handout with anyone you think might benefit. They also welcome your suggestions for improving the handout. Please send your comments to Kim Brown via email at [email protected], by leaving a message at (406) 243-4134, or through regular mail: Kim Brown, UM Rural Institute, 700 SW Higgins, Ste. 250, Missoula, MT  59803.

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Transition Tidbits is produced by the University of Montana's Rural Institute Transition and Employment Projects, which is funded in part under a contract with the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities. The representations, if any, contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Council.