Preparedness and training needs of a regional public mental health service to support people with intellectual disability

Abstract

Objective: To explore the preparedness and training needs of a regional public mental health workforce to support people with intellectual disability and mental ill health.

Setting and participants: Staff from a regional public mental health service in Victoria, Australia.

Design: A mixed-methods design comprised a survey, interviews and a focus group to collect data about staff attitudes, confidence, education and professional development regarding supporting people with intellectual disability and mental ill health. Descriptive and thematic analyses were used.

Results: Data from 31 survey respondents, seven interviews and one focus group were analysed. Survey descriptive analyses showed participants believed treating people with intellectual disability was part of their role but reported areas of low confidence along with insufficient education and training in intellectual disability mental health. Thematic analyses from interviews showed that underpinning confidence, education and training were the themes (1) need for flexibility, such as having more time and (2) solutions but with challenges, such as limited opportunity to upskill and availability of experts. A need for collaborative problem-solving where staff share skills and information to work towards person-centred solutions was a key theme from the focus group analysis.

Conclusion: Professional development in intellectual disability mental health is required for the regional public mental health workforce but needs to account for the challenges experienced and reflect how teams function. Exploration of described preparedness offered a possible learning approach informed by workforce members. Collaborative learning approaches to supporting people with intellectual disability and mental ill health are suggested.

Keywords: confidence; intellectual disability; mental health workforce; professional development; rural health.