Mental Health

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Knowledge in to practice: guideline implementation tools

Guideline implementation tools help health care providers in implementing the recommendations from the 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines on the primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in to clinical practice.

They provide a systematic approach to assessing and addressing mental health needs. The tools encourage health care providers to consider factors contributing to emotional and behavioural distress, i.e., screen for health problems, environmental factors, and life events, particularly trauma. Use of the practice tools and the clinical pathway outlined in “Initial Management of a Behavioural Crisis” may help prevent escalation of serious emotional and behavioural distress and mental health problems.

Tools in this section have been updated from tools developed in 2011 by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Initiative, a group of clinicians and experts with experience in caring for adults with IDD. The tools are based on research evidence, as well as clinical knowledge and expertise. Updated and new tools (2023) were revised and developed specifically with a trauma-informed care perspective.

We are continuously interested in learning how these tools work in practice. For suggestions and feedback, please contact us at ddpcp@surreyplace.ca 

All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, Surrey Place. Contact the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program at Surrey Place at ddpcp@surreyplace.ca for permission to adapt information and tools to your local practice setting.