Intellectual disability services in North America

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores the current landscape of mental healthcare delivery for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in Canada, the US, and Mexico. A macro, meso, and micro lens provides an overview of mental healthcare of adults with IDD in Canada. Some of the barriers to effective delivery of care include siloed systems, lack of IDD-specific training, and difficulties arising from transitions in care. In contrast, there are many examples of system-level enablers, such as interprofessional teams for care delivery, virtual care, guidelines and tools, caregiver involvement, and innovative educational initiatives. The Canadian section also reflects on a few important considerations for improvement in mental healthcare for people with IDD. Similar progress and challenges exist in the services for people with IDD in the US. Mexico has limited services specially designed for meeting the needs of people with IDD. There is a recent government intent to address this.