Mental Health

Knowledge in to practice: guideline implementation tools

Guideline implementation tools help primary care providers, such as family physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, 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.

The tools in this section are recommended in the Mental Health section of the guidelines. They provide a systematic approach to assessing mental health and behaviours that challenge and encourage physicians to screen for physical health, environmental factors and life events that may contribute to behaviours that challenge. Tools such as those for crisis management planning may help in preventing the escalation of serious behavioural and mental health problems.

Most tools in this section were developed in 2011 by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Initiative, which consisted of a group of clinicians and experts with experience in caring for adults with IDD. They are based on research evidence, as well as clinical knowledge and expertise.

We are currently in the process of updating these practice resources. If you are a practising family physician with feedback on the use of the 2011 version of these tools, please contact us at ddpcp@surreyplace.on.ca.