SOOTHE

Responding to the Mental Health Concerns of Older Aged People with Intellectual Disability – focused on improving the mental health outcomes for a group of European citizens who systematically experience marginalization. Its general objective was to empower older people with intellectual disability to achieve mentally healthy lifestyles through self-help and to facilitate carers to assist them in this regard. Through a series of workshops (sharing understandings/reflection/solution solving/ action/building communities of practice/sharing what was learned), this project sought to normalize perspectives on mental health among older citizens with intellectual disability (40+) in three European countries, facilitating exploration of innovative solutions to promote self/assisted-management of mental health and wellness. It sought to support empowerment of older adults with intellectual disability to adopt mentally healthy lifestyles, and to enable them to engage with formal carers, practitioners and innovators in the field of ageing and intellectual disability, through participation in events in Netherlands, Spain and Ireland.

In particular, it aimed to:

• Define and describe mental health and mental ill-health, reconcile differences in perspective and arrive at agreed understandings through facilitated, accessible, discussion.
• Identify agreed indicators/manifestations of positive and negative mental health in the lives of participants.
• Identify the factors that promote or compromise mental health using a creative ‘Quilt’ technique.
• Co-create a model of mental health through employment of artistic (drama/movement/art) and innovative (technology-based) learning activities.
• Explore appropriate solutions to supporting good mental health in self or others, using role play and interactive video.
• Transfer learning from workshop to real life through facilitated learning with/without personal technology.
• Enact strategies to create a positive environment for mental health and well-being.

Further information can be found at www.sootheid.eu or from the project lead, Prof Fintan Sheerin at fintan.sheerin@mu.ie