Exploring the Impact of Training on the Mental Health Aspects of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for Direct Support Professionals

The Mental Health Aspects of IDD (IDD-MH) Course for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) is a six-session, live, virtual course offered by the National Center for START Services, a program of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. It is co-facilitated by clinicians and people with lived experience of intellectual and developmental disabilities with mental health conditions (IDD-MH). Evaluation results (N = 193) of three training cohorts (2021-2022) are analyzed to examine quantitative and qualitative changes in knowledge, perspective, and confidence regarding provision of positive, strengths-based support to people with IDD-MH. The study concludes with the identification of future topics for DSP training.