Barriers and requirements for parenting supports and mental health care among mothers with intellectual disabilities: Health and social service-provider perspectives. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Hilary K.; Tint, Ami; Heifetz, Marina; Chacra, Megan Abou; Bluestein, Deborah; Vigod, Simone; Lunsky, Yona
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 126(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Intellectual disability -- Mental health -- Motherhood -- Qualitative research; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Mothers with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of mental illness, but these needs are not adequately addressed. Aims: We examined health and social service-provider perceptions of barriers to parenting and mental health care among mothers with ID and strategies for building good practice capacity. Methods and procedures: In this qualitative study in Ontario, Canada, we interviewed 13 service-providers working with mothers with ID about their experiences supporting parenting and mental health in mothers with ID, including barriers to services and strategies for building good practice capacity. Data were analyzed via inductive, semantic-level thematic analysis. Outcomes and results: Perceived barriers to care provision were the vulnerable social context of women with ID, distrust of "the system" by women with ID, and siloed services. Increased training of service-providers, making accommodations in existing services, and building a community of support for women with ID were offered as strategies for good practice capacity. Conclusions and implications: Efforts to improve mental health among mothers with ID should focus on improving service-provider capacity and accommodations in existing services, and enhancing coordination of care. What this paper adds?: Mothers with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of mental illness, but supports for mothers with ID typically focus on parenting skills, and women's mental health care services do not consider the unique needs of those with ID. Health and social service-providers have reported inadequate training, fragmented services, high caseloads, and lack of practical supports as barriers to providing quality care to mothers with ID. However, no studies have examined service-providers' perceptions of needs related specifically to parenting and mental health among mothers with ID. This study provides new information on barriers to parenting and mental health care among mothers with ID and strategies for good practice capacity, from the perspectives of service-providers. Perceived barriers to care provision include social determinants of health, a distrust of "the system" by women with ID, and siloed services. Providers recommended that providing better training, including accommodations in existing services, and building a community of support could be beneficial to improving practice capacity in the context of mental health care and parenting supports. These factors need to be addressed to improve mental health among mothers with ID. Highlights: There are barriers to mental health care for mothers with intellectual disability. Social contexts, distrust, and siloed services are barriers to mental health care. Better provider training, accommodations, and communities of support are needed. These efforts are urgently needed to improve access to mental health care.