Understanding Barriers to Mental Health Supports During the Pandemic for Workers in Intellectual Disability Services.
Madelaine Carter, Nicole Bobbette, Sabrina Campanella and 1 others
PMID 40129137WHAT IT FOUND
Nearly half of intellectual disability support workers face barriers to mental health care, primarily cost and lack of time.
They do not want more counselling; they want systemic changes like paid time off, extra staffing, and better pay to make their jobs sustainable.
Key findings
01Between 43% and 49% of respondents reported experiencing barriers to seeking mental health supports across the three survey years.
02The most common barriers were cost (up to 73.7%) and not having time (up to 69.1%), followed by uncertainty about how to access help and long wait times.
03Workers most frequently requested systemic workplace changes rather than clinical treatments, specifically time off, extra staff coverage, and improved financial compensation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample was predominantly white, so the findings may not reflect the experiences of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour workers. Because the survey was anonymous, it is unknown how many individuals repeated the survey each year, making it difficult to determine if changes over time reflect shifting perspectives or different respondents. The study relies on self-reported data and voluntary participation, which may introduce selection bias. The online format may have excluded workers who are uncomfortable with digital technology or lack access to devices.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Azrieli Foundation and its Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high demand for systemic changes as a lack of need for clinical mental health services. The barriers reported, such as cost and time, prevent workers from accessing care, but the study does not show that workplace changes alone would resolve their mental health distress.