Barriers to Mental Health Assessment and Treatment for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: Findings from a National Service Development Project in Norway

Background People with intellectual disabilities face considerable barriers to accessing appropriate mental health assessment and treatment. These barriers have been sparsely explored beyond a few countries, and the specific actions needed to address them remain unclear.Methods As part of a Norwegian service development project, 46 participants (33 professionals, 13 family members) with experience of mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities, reported barriers based on their experience. Their responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results The analysis identified a core theme; the participants perceived the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities to be viewed as less important compared to people without intellectual disabilities across the healthcare system, resulting in a host of entangled and complex barriers affecting all levels of the system.Conclusion Comprehensive action is required across all levels of the healthcare system to ensure equitable and appropriate mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities.