About this Program | Mental health for adults with developmental disabilities during COVID: A virtual course for family caregivers

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This project is brought to you in partnership with Developmental Service Providers of the Eastern Region Collaborative and made possible through funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Learn more about this virtual course below.

Please note this program is for family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in Ontario.

Registration for this course closes March 16th, 2020

This course will run for 6 weeks beginning on Wednesday March 17, 2021 from 12:30-2:00PM EST. You can view a list of session topics by day below.

March 17, 2021 | Getting help for mental health concerns

Families play a key role in supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to understand and get help for mental health concerns in the context of pandemic restrictions. This session will focus on risk factors for mental health issues and strategies for promoting wellness during COVID-19.

March 24, 2021 | Empowering family caregivers to improve health care communication

This session will focus on key communication tools to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to get the best health care possible. We will introduce the Family Matters Toolkit, a resource to help: 1) manage common health issues; 2) talk about health issues and health care; and 3) navigate the health care system.

March 31 , 2021 | Managing mental health during COVID-19: An introduction to strategies for mental health concerns

This session will explore the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people with developmental disabilities, strategies to manage mood and anxiety difficulties, and knowing when and where to get help.

April 7, 2021 | Healthcare planning: Promoting decision-making capabilities

The session will focus on healthcare decision-making for you and your loved one with an intellectual and developmental disability, including advance care planning. We will also share tips and practical tools to make this process easier.

April 14, 2021 | Grief and loss

This session will focus on understanding the impact of grief and loss (e.g., loss of routines, loss of contact with family and friends) during COVID-19. We will also discuss the impact of grieving the loss of loved ones and strategies to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities grieving during this time.

April 21, 2021 | Self-care: Caring for the caregiver

This session will focus on the family experience of caregiving, including the impact on parents and siblings during COVID-19. We will build awareness of family distress screening tools and evidence-supported inventions to promote caregiver mental health.

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