"They need to speak a language everyone can understand": Accessibility of COVID-19 vaccine information for Canadian adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Accessible vaccine information is one vital component of effective vaccination programs, however, there is limited research that explores how people with disabilities engage with public health messaging. This study aimed to understand how adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers navigated Canada's public health communications regarding COVID-19 vaccines. A national survey on the accessibility of vaccine information was conducted in the spring and summer of 2022.

The impact of a virtual wellness course for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the third year of COVID-19.

The current study examines how a virtual wellness intervention may improve health outcomes in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thirty-six adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities participated in the wellness intervention. Outcome measures related to satisfaction, mental health, wellbeing, health behaviours and overall health were completed at three time points (pre, post and follow-up).

Bridging the gap: national virtual education programme for professionals caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the time of COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During this period of uncertainty and need for up-to-date information, various virtual training programmes demonstrated the role of tele-mentoring programmes.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the educational evaluation of the National Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes - Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ECHO-AIDD), a programme for service providers working with adults with IDD during COVID-19.

"Everything has changed since COVID": Ongoing challenges faced by Canadian adults with intellectual disabilities during waves 2 and 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in many ways, impacting their health and wellbeing. Early in the pandemic, the research team delivered a six-week virtual group-based program to help Canadian adults with intellectual disabilities cope and better manage their mental health. The study's objective was to explore ongoing concerns among individuals with intellectual disabilities following their participation in this education and support program.

Intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario's criminal justice and forensic mental health systems: Using data to tell the story.

Background: International studies show that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems; however, it is difficult to capture their involvement across systems in any one jurisdiction.

Aims: The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of IDD across different parts of the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems in Ontario and to describe the demographic and clinical profiles of these individuals relative to their counterparts without IDD.

Methods: This project utilised administrative data to identify and describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of adults with IDD and criminal justice or forensic involvement across four sectors: federal correctional facilities, provincial correctional facilities, forensic inpatient mental health care and community mental health programmes.

Amenable deaths among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Down syndrome: An Ontario population-based cohort study.

Background: Rates of death and avoidable deaths are reportedly higher among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study contributes to our understanding of how mortality and intellectual and development disabilities are associated.

Method: General population and intellectual and developmental disabilities adult cohorts were defined using linked administrative data.

'More together than apart': The evaluation of a virtual course to improve mental health and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: To address the growing concerns over poor mental health experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a national virtual mental health course was delivered and evaluated.

Methods: This mixed methods study utilized both qualitative and quantitative assessments. Participants were 27 adults with intellectual disabilities who participated in the 6-week course.

Intellectual/developmental disabilities among people incarcerated in federal correctional facilities in Ontario, Canada: Examining prevalence, health and correctional characteristics.

Background: There is little research with people who experience intellectual/developmental disabilities and imprisonment.

Methods: The study linked health and correctional data to examine prevalence of intellectual/developmental disabilities and health and correctional characteristics among adults experiencing their first federal incarceration between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2011 (n = 9278) and two non-incarcerated groups (n = 10,086,802).

Results: The prevalence of intellectual/developmental disabilities was 2.

The Nuts and Bolts of Health Care: Evaluating an initiative to build direct support professional capacity to support the health care of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Direct support professionals (DSP) are instrumental in supporting the health care of individuals with intellectual disabilities, yet receive little training and support for this role. We implemented a capacity building intervention for DSPs in a community agency in Ontario, Canada. This study evaluated the perceived value and feasibility of the intervention and the value of a structured implementation approach.

Looking across health and healthcare outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and psychiatric disorders: population-based longitudinal study.

Background: Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and psychiatric disorders frequently co-occur. Although each has been associated with negative outcomes, their combined effect has rarely been studied.

Aims: To examine the likelihood of five negative health and healthcare outcomes for adults with IDD and mental health/addiction disorders (MHAs), both separately and together.

The prevalence and health status of people with developmental disabilities in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Data on the prevalence of developmental disabilities in people who experience imprisonment and on their characteristics are lacking.

Methods: The present authors identified adults with developmental disabilities who were released from Ontario provincial prisons in 2010 and a general population comparator group using administrative data. The present authors examined demographic characteristics, morbidity and healthcare use.

The Mental Health of Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Ontario: Lessons from Administrative Health Data.

Adults with developmental disabilities have increased rates of mental illness and addiction, in addition to being more likely to experience physical health issues. This can lead to high rates of hospital and community-based healthcare. Population-based administrative health data can help in identifying the extent of problems experienced and target areas for policy and practice changes.

Assessing care-giving demands, resources and costs of family/friend caregivers for persons with mental health disorders: A scoping review.

As mental health (MH) care has shifted from institutional settings to the community, families and friends are responsible for providing the majority of the care at home. The substantial literature on the adverse effects experienced by caregivers has focused mainly on psychological morbidity. Less attention has been paid to how caregivers for persons with MH disorders interact with larger social systems and the impacts of factors such as financial strain, lost time from leisure activities, and the availability of health and social services.

Barriers and facilitators to implementing family support and education in Early Psychosis Intervention programmes: A systematic review.

Family support is a core component of the Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) model, yet it continues to have relatively low rates of implementation in practice. This paper reports results of a literature review on facilitators and barriers to delivering family interventions in EPI programmes. A search was conducted of 4 electronic databases, Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Joanna Briggs, from 2000 to 2015 using terms related to early onset psychosis, family work and implementation.

Exploring stimulant treatment in ADHD: narratives of young adolescents and their parents.

Background: Young adolescents' and their parents' experiences with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its treatment were explored to investigate beliefs and attitudes regarding use of stimulant medication, and their influence on treatment decisions.

Methods: Using in-depth qualitative interviews, 12 adolescents with ADHD aged 12 - 15 years, and their parents described their experiences of ADHD and its treatment. Twenty four interviews, 12 with adolescents and 12 with their parents elicited detailed descriptions of beliefs about ADHD, attitudes about stimulant use and the circumstances surrounding treatment decisions.

Choosing child and adolescent psychiatry: factors influencing medical students.

Objective: To examine the factors influencing medical students to choose child and adolescent psychiatry as a career specialty.

Method: Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. A web-based survey was distributed to child and adolescent psychiatrists at the University of Toronto.

Attracting Child Psychiatrists to a Televideo Consultation Service: The TeleLink Experience.

Objective. Identify aspects of psychiatry work that are rewarding, as well as those that are challenging, from the perspective of psychiatrists and residents participating in televideo consultation services. Method.

Reflections of young people who have had a first episode of psychosis: what attracted them to use alcohol and illicit drugs?

Aim: To identify factors that contribute to the initiation of alcohol and street drug use from the perspective of people who were enrolled in early intervention programmes for a first episode of psychosis.

Method: Eight focus groups were conducted involving an average of four to six participants per group, with each group consisting of young people who met provincial inclusion criteria for early intervention programmes. Thematic analysis was used to systematically code transcripts from the focus groups for concepts, patterns and themes related to early use of illicit substances.

Youth at ultra high risk for psychosis: using the Revised Network Episode Model to examine pathways to mental health care.

Aim: This paper aims to identify the ways in which youth at ultra high risk for psychosis access mental health services and the factors that advance or delay help seeking, using the Revised Network Episode Model (REV NEM) of mental health care.

Methods: A case study approach documents help-seeking pathways, encompassing two qualitative interviews with 10 young people and 29 significant others. Theoretical propositions derived from the REV NEM are explored, consisting of the content, structure and function of the: (i) family; (ii) community and school; and (iii) treatment system.

Transforming Child and Youth Mental Health Care via Innovative Technological Solutions.

Live interactive videoconferencing and other technologies offer innovative opportunities for effective delivery of specialized child and adolescent mental health services. In this article, an example of a comprehensive telepsychiatry program is presented to highlight a variety of capacity-building initiatives that are responsive to community needs and cultures; these initiatives are allowing children, youth and caregivers to access otherwise-distant specialist services within their home communities. Committed, enthusiastic champions, adequate funding and infrastructure, creativity and a positive attitude represent key elements in the adaptation of this demonstrated user-friendly modality.

Child and youth telepsychiatry in rural and remote primary care.

Young people with psychological or psychiatric problems are managed largely by primary care practitioners, many of whom feel inadequately trained, ill equipped, and uncomfortable with this responsibility. Accessing specialist pediatric and psychological services, often located in and near large urban centers, is a particular challenge for rural and remote communities. Live interactive videoconferencing technology (telepsychiatry) presents innovative opportunities to bridge these service gaps.

A descriptive review of qualitative studies in first episode psychosis.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to provide a descriptive review of published qualitative research studies on first episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods: A review was undertaken to describe the findings of qualitative studies in early psychosis. Keyword searches in Medline, CINAHL, ASSIA, PsychINFO databases, as well as manual searches of other relevant journals and reference lists of primary papers, were conducted.

A qualitative study of young people's perspectives on receiving psychiatric services via televideo.

Objective: It is critical to consult young people about their experiences. This study addresses the paucity of research on the perspective of young people in general, and in paediatric telepsychiatry specifically. The goal is to understand the experience of young people receiving telepsychiatry.

A theoretical approach to medication adherence for children and youth with psychiatric disorders.

This article provides a theoretical review of treatment adherence for children and youth with psychiatric disorders where pharmacological agents are first-line interventions. Four empirically based models of health behavior are reviewed and applied to the sparse literature about medication adherence for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and young people with first-episode psychosis. Three qualitative studies of medication use are summarized, and details from the first-person narratives are used to illustrate the theoretical models.