The experiences of nurses working with people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems.

Aim: This study aims to explore the experiences of nurses working with people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems. Background: Providing mental health care for people with intellectual disabilities is problematic and challenging. Nurses are considered central to providing mental health care for people with intellectual disabilities. However, several studies indicated nurses face critical challenges when dealing with people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems. Methodology: An interpretive qualitative approach was adopted. The study employed a purposive sampling technique. Seven nurses were recruited and in-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted to collect data. The study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Dublin City University and the local Ethics Committee of the service where the researcher conducted the study. Analysis: Transcribed interviews were analysed through thematic content analysis. Results: The study uncovered a range of challenges for nurses in providing mental health care for people with intellectual and mental health problems. These included: lack of training and education for nurses in relation to mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities, inability to communicate with people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems, institutional life of people with intellectual disabilities, and lack of co-ordination of multi-disciplinary team. Conclusion: Literature acknowledged the need for mental health care for people with intellectual disabilities, and agreed that nurses’ roles are crucial in both promoting and treating the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, the service providers at a local level must engage with administrators, multi-disciplinary teams, nurse managers and nurses to implement the recommendations of the study to support nurses in order to render better mental health care for people with intellectual disabilities