People with intellectual disabilities who do not receive timely mental health care are more likely to face poor educational, social, and physical health outcomes. The risk of inpatient admission rises, and when care is finally offered, it may be far from home, inflexible, or inaccessible.

 Long-term consequences of Mental Health Neglect

Statistics highlight that 40% of people with intellectual disabilities are likely to have a mental health condition. This does not account for the people with intellectual disabilities whose mental health condition has been overlooked due to the inaccuracies caused by diagnostic overshadowing. This diagnostic barrier leads to undertreatment, delayed interventions and long-term harm and the cost inaction is high.

University of North Texas

A diagnosis of intellectual disabilities can paradoxically act as a barrier to accessing services, known as diagnostic overshadowing, where symptoms of a mental health condition are misinterpreted as characteristics of intellectual disabilities. For example, a person with intellectual disabilities presenting with low mood or withdrawal may be misinterpreted as ‘just part of their intellectual disabilities’ rather than being recognized as experiencing depression or trauma. 

Diagnostic Overshadowing

Williams, N., Tuomainen, H., & Taylor, J. (2026). Lost in the system: rethinking mainstream mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities. Disability & Society, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2026.2634347 



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