Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support individuals who have both intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. This training offers an introduction to dual diagnosis and facilitates understanding of how mental health issues manifest in individuals with developmental disabilities.

Participants will explore the challenges faced by mental health professionals when diagnosing mental illness in this population and gain insights into how anxiety, psychotic, mood, and personality disorders may present differently in those with developmental disabilities. The training will cover various treatment and therapeutic strategies, providing you with practical approaches that can be adapted to meet the unique needs of dually diagnosed individuals.

Dual Diagnosis is available through attending a pre-scheduled training session, scheduling an onsite session, or as a Train-the-Trainer model, allowing your organization to integrate this knowledge into your training programs. For more information or to explore your options please contact the Service Alternatives Training Institute.

By the end of this training:

• Student will gain a basic understanding of the distinction between intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental illness.

• Student will gain an understanding of what it means to have a dual diagnosis.

• Student will gain an understanding of why it is sometimes difficult to diagnose

mental health issues in people with developmental disabilities.

• Student will gain an understanding of how affective disorders, anxiety disorders,

psychosis, and personality disorders manifest in individuals with developmental

disabilities.

• Student will gain an understanding of treatment and therapeutic strategies for

individuals who are dually diagnosed, as well as practical strategies and ideas that

they can use to support dually diagnosed individuals.

This course will be beneficial for those who interact with individuals with developmental disabilities who are also experiencing a mental health condition.

6 hours