An interview tool to help mental health clinicians ask people with intellectual disability the right questions

Mental illness often presents differently in people with intellectual disability. For example, they may not be able to communicate how they are feeling.

People with intellectual disability face lots of barriers when accessing mental health care. These barriers may be worse for people from multicultural backgrounds and First Nations people.

Mental health professionals are not educated or trained to recognise symptoms of mental illness in people with intellectual disability.

When people with intellectual disability don't get the right diagnosis, it can lead to long-term mental health problems, or inappropriate treatments.

This project aims to create an interview tool for mental health professionals, so people with intellectual disability get the right diagnosis and treatment.

We will work with people with intellectual disability, their family and supporters to develop the tool, including questions, format, flow and implementation.

Project timeline: August 2025 to June 2026

Project lead: Cathy Franklin

Project team: Katie Brooker and Kitty-Rose Foley

Acknowledgement: Thanks to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for supporting this project.