Challenging Behaviour & Mental Health

The Special Interest Group on Challenging Behavior and Mental Health (SIRG/CBMH) was established at the 13th World Congress of IASSIDD at Cape Town, South Africa. It replaced the existing SIRG on mental health with the objective of expanding the scope of the original group and creating a forum for developing integrated research and practice.

Mission Statement

The mission of the SIRG/CBMH is to:

  • Provide a focus for the worldwide exchange and dissemination of research and practice, as well as networking, in the field of challenging behavior and mental health.
  • Provide a vehicle for the promotion and development of integrated research and clinical activities that further understanding of the relationship between psychological and behavioral well being in people with intellectual disability.
  • Specifically encourage the development of cross-national, multi-disciplinary collaboration in research and practice that integrates biological, sociological, behavioral and psychotherapeutic perspectives.
  • Improve the quality of life and services for people with intellectual disabilities and additional behavioral or mental health needs, their carers, and their families. As such, the views and contributions of these groups will be fundamental in contributing to and shaping the activities of the SIRG.
  • Provide a supportive organizational framework for promoting the work of its members via journals, conferences and scientific meetings associated with IASSIDD.

To read the Bylaws Click Here

Documents and Publications

Current Newsletter

Past Newsletters

Past Minutes

Events

We are very excited to host a virtual event on May 15, 2023!

Event Title: Clinical Research in Behavioral and Mental Health

Date – May 15; 2 hour event followed by a 30-minute SIRG meeting

  • 2:30 PM  (UTC; London)
  • 10:30 AM (EST; New York, United States)
  • 7:30 AM (PDT; San Francisco, United States)

Where – Zoom (log-in information is found here: IASSIDD may 2023 v1 )

Registration info – This event is free for all members of IASSIDD. Become a member today (https://iassidd.org/join/) and get access to:

  • This event
  • Several other events offered throughout the year (https://iassidd.org/2023-events/)
  • Peer-reviewed publications
  • Opportunities for networking
  • Professional development and leadership opportunities

Tentative schedule:

Time (EST) Presenter Talk Type Title
10:30-10:50  Pontus Wallin

Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

Brief Research Presentation Enhancing Staff Capacity to Support Children with Intellectual Disability Receiving Residential Services – a Realist Evaluation of an Improvement Program
10:50-11:20  Melissa Diamond

A Global Voice for Autism

Personal perspectives Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum in Refugee & Conflict-Affected Contexts Challenges and Opportunities
11:20-11:50  Kayla Kostal, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Maria Baranowski,

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Research Presentation Changes in mental health and problem behaviours from deinstitutionalization among persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A longitudinal study
11:50 -12:30  Doreen Samelson EdD. MSCP

Chief Clinical Officer Catalight

Research Presentation Understanding Dangerous Behavior with a Population Measure
12:30-1 CBMH Meeting

Executive

Professor Mindy Scheithauer. Chair & Treasurer (Georgia, USA) Mindy.Scheithauer@choa.org

Professor Debbi Napolitano. Secretary (New York, USA)

Andrea Thomas, Doctoral Researcher (Birmingham, England)

Professor Karen Nankervis. Executive Member (QLD, Australia)

Professor Maria Valdovinos. Executive Member (Iowa, USA)

If you are interested in getting involved with special interest research group, please contact Dr. Mindy Scheithauer (Mindy.Scheithauer@choa.org).  We have several opportunities for involvement with newsletters, conferences, and our SIRG activities.

International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) 

The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) is the first and only world-wide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.

Founded in 1964 as the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency, IASSIDD is an international, interdisciplinary and scientific non-governmental organization which promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities.