Mental health and post-school transitions for young people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD): A scoping review.

Abstract

Background: Young people with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) often face ineffective and exclusionary post-school transition practices, leading to poor mental health in early adulthood.Objective: This scoping review aimed to map existing literature on mental health for young people with IDD during the post-school transition period including how IDD and mental health are characterised in this context and the extent to which community members with lived experience are included in the design and/or production of research.Methods: In collaboration with a co-researcher, we used the JBI framework and PRISMA guidelines in accordance with a published protocol. A tiered search was conducted in PsycINFO, Medline, ERIC, Web of Science, and Family and Society Studies Worldwide.Findings: The search identified 28 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Articles were published between 2011 and 2023 and conducted across four countries. Thirteen applied a quantitative study design, eight were qualitative, three used a mixed-methods design, and the remaining were reviews. Most articles focused on autism. The majority discussed mental health in terms of its impact on transitioning from school or as a co-occurring condition.Conclusions: There is a growing body of literature highlighting the challenges young people with disabilities face when transitioning from high school. However, there is a notable gap in the representation of diverse IDD populations and mental health emerged variably, often as an incidental finding rather than a primary focus.