Dual Diagnosis Behaviour and Anxiety Clinic
Learn how the Child and Parent Resource (CPRI) Institute helps children and youth who have an intellectual disability along with severe psychiatric concerns, behaviour problems or emotional disorders.
Understanding intellectual disability and global developmental delay
Someone with a diagnosed intellectual disability has limitations in:
- thinking and problem-solving skills (also called intellectual functioning)
- day-to-day life and social skills (also called adaptive functioning)
The problems begin in childhood and last for the person’s whole life. Someone with a global developmental delay has delays in multiple areas of development. They are too young or do not have some of the skills required for us to do a complete assessment of their intellectual abilities.
Psychiatric behaviour problems include:
- severe behavioural problems
- mood disorders
- attention deficit disorders
- harm to self or others
- property damage
- anxiety disorders
Symptoms
Children with intellectual disabilities may have challenges with:
- social skills
- school
- communication
- emotions
- behaviour
They can also have the same mental health difficulties as other children and youth.
Their symptoms may look different because of their differences in development and skills. They may show their symptoms through disruptive or aggressive behaviour more often.
Recognizing and treating their symptoms may be more challenging because of the differences in their skills and development.
About Dual Diagnosis Behaviour and Anxiety Clinic
Child and Parent Research Institute (CPRI) believes that becoming partners with you, your child and family and community supports is the key to positive long-term outcomes for you and your child. You are important members of our team through the assessment, treatment and follow-up stages.
Clinicians from our team will meet with you and your child to listen to your concerns, assess your child’s needs and create a service plan.
The services your child or youth gets at the clinic depends on their unique needs. This could include:
- assessments by other clinicians on the team or in your home community
- consultation with community service providers
- education about your child’s needs in the context of his/her abilities, mental health and behaviour
- group services (such as Triple P Stepping Stones program)
- short-term individual or family treatment
Eligibility
The Dual Diagnosis Behaviour and Anxiety Clinic provides services for children and youth age 2 up to age 18 with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay and psychiatric concerns, behaviour problems, or emotional disorders.
Generally, local services available to support a child/youth in their home community are accessed first before a referral to CPRI is considered. This may include a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or a child & youth mental health/developmental service provider.
How to access services
You can submit an outpatient referral form for this service if you are:
- the child or youth’s parent
- the child or youth in need of service
- a member of the child or youth’s care team (such as doctor, community agency, school, etc.) with the consent of the child or youth, parent/guardian or substitute decision maker
In some communities, outpatient referrals are processed through your local Single Point Access Mechanism.
All referral forms must be signed by the child or youth’s doctor.
Learn more about the referral process and access referral forms.
Where appointments are held
After you are referred to CPRI, our first step is to do an assessment.
We will:
- book an appointment for clinicians to meet with you and your child to listen to your concerns and to assess your child’s needs
- make a service plan based on your child’s unique needs after the assessment
- assign you a case manager to coordinate your child’s treatment, answer your questions and connect you with community support
Assessments may be completed at CPRI, virtually, and/or at the child’s or youth’s home or school. The best place for appointments is decided based on your child’s, youth’s and family’s needs and circumstances.
At the end of service, we will work with community partners to transition your child or youth back to services available in the community where they live.