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• Some people are born with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
  • Some examples of IDD are:
    • Autism
    • Down Syndrome
    • Fragile X Syndrome
  • People with IDD think, learn, and communicate differently than others. Developmental disabilities often show up in young children. Intellectual disabilities often show up before turning 18 years old.
  • People with intellectual disabilities may need help learning new things. If you have an IDD, you may need help with everyday life. That’s okay! 

• People can also have mental health conditions.
  • Some examples of mental health conditions are:
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Bipolar Disorder
  • People with mental health conditions often have big or overwhelming feelings. They might feel more sad, nervous, or angry than other people. Mental health conditions can happen at any age. There are many things involved with these conditions, such as:
    • How your brain works
    • Your daily life
    • The world around you
    • Your medical needs
    • Your emotions

• A diagnosis means a doctor tells you that you have a specific condition or disability.
• Dual diagnosis means having two different diagnoses – both an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and a mental health condition. 
  • For example, someone with a dual diagnosis might have both autism and depression. 

• Research shows that people with IDD are more likely to have a mental health condition. This could be up to four times more likely than people without IDD.
• People with dual diagnoses may have a hard time getting help. Doctors don’t always notice when people have both IDD and mental health conditions. This is because people with IDD experience mental illness differently than others. Some people with IDD have trouble communicating their thoughts. Doctors don’t always know how to help. So, some psychiatrists can make mistakes and tell people the wrong diagnosis.