The Arc of Texas — Complex Mental Health Needs (Whole Person Project)

The Whole Person Project, developed by The Arc of Texas, studied statewide barriers to mental health care for people with DD and identified public policy recommendations to expand access to quality care and support for dually diagnosed people across Texas. The project also interviewed disability advocates and created a series of short videos featuring disability advocates speaking about their experience with accessing mental health care and other services.

As part of the project, The Arc of Texas published an investigative report (PDF, 37 pages, 1.08 MB) that examined areas where mental health support was lacking for Texans with DD. Titled “Out of Options: Addressing Inequities in Care for Texans with IDD and Mental Illness,” the report offered an expansive look at the state of mental health care for Texans who are dually diagnosed.

Here are some examples of topics discussed in the report:

• mental health screenings for people with DD in county jails;
• access to services through Medicaid waivers, psychiatric hospitals, and state-supported living centers; and
• workforce shortages for mental health professionals and personal care attendants.
    

The report also included recommendations to lawmakers on how to address mental health disparities, and highlighted stories from people with DD and their families who faced barriers to mental health care. On The Arc of Texas YouTube channel, you can find a recording of a webinar about the report’s findings and recommendations.

Additionally, the Whole Person Project developed online training for mental health care providers who work with people with DD who may also experience mental health conditions. The training includes courses on understanding disability frameworks, dual diagnosis, legal requirements, and communication strategies. While intended mainly for mental health care providers, the training is also useful to anyone involved or interested in supporting people with DD who also have mental health conditions.

TCDD has supported grant projects across Texas to better understand and address the needs of youth and adults with DD and mental health conditions. The complexities of having both DD and mental illness create barriers to finding support, prevention, intervention, and treatment services. While people can experience mental health trauma regardless of whether they also have a disability, people with DD experience this trauma more frequently. Too often, their needs go unrecognized and untreated until a crisis happens.