Dennis McGuire: Mental Wellness and Good Health in Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome

7/27/2019 Dennis McGuire: Mental Wellness and Good Health in Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome

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Mental wellness and good health in teensand adults with Down syndrome

Findings fromthe Adult Down Syndrome Center

www.advocatehealth.com/adultdown

Dennis McGuire Ph.D.,

[email protected]


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Multidisciplinary Clinic:Health & Mental Wellness

Since the Clinic opened in Jan 1992 We have seen over 5500 peopleOne stop shop - primary care Mental health care (1/3 of patients)


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Two Reasons for Our Success

1. Multi-disciplinary:

Far more successful in identifying

and treating problems

2. Work closely with families

n Repeatedly told us:Behavioral attributes


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Attributes Key to everything:,Strength or weakness

1. Expressive language

2. Self Talk

3. Social-emotional skills

4. Grooves

5. Visual Cues

Visual memory


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Behavioral attributes : Strengthor weakness

Strength

n Receptive languagen Self talk (Private

space)

n Social skills{Sensitive/responsive}

Serves in so many

positive waysFamily, friends, bosses)

Weakness

n Expressive languagenA social skill problem

(outside)

n **Highly sensitive tonegative feelings and

emotions


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KEY Behavioral attributes :Strength or weakness

Strength

n Groove (rely on setpatterns routines )

n Visual strength (show)n Photographic-like

memory

n **Replay memories,movies etc as if occurring

now (original feelings)

Weakness

n Can become stuck andunproductive (when stressed

nAuditory Deficit (tell them)n Good or bad (memory)n 1. Risk ofphobias and PTSDn 2. Preferred method of escap

{Bored or stressed}


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How to create an environmentwhere my child with DS will

have mental wellness?

v Because people with DS are highlysensitivity to feelings and emotions in

others

v They are affected by others emotions(even if not directed at them)

v Find environments that are positive


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Create mental wellness:RememberGrooves are

onboard equipment

v Introduce CHANGE carefully(whenever possible)

v Patience Patience Patiencev Dont push or rush peoplev Give control back to person with DS

(whenever possible)


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How to enhance health and well being:

Physical and nutritional health:

o Take advantage of these 2 attributes visualand the groove

o Visual: People love checklists andcalendars

Groove: People will have habits; Why notgood ones?


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Classic example :Visual lists can beespecially helpful to encourage independence

The list tells me what to do And not mom and dad


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How to get son or daughter to:


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Lists are also very powerful

Breakfast__ one egg

__ one toast

__ Cereal

__Juice


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How do I know something is

wrong ? 3 key ways

1. If they lose interest in things they love(eg., food, music, movies, dancing)

2. If they have more anger/ self criticismin theirself talk

3. If they have grooves that get stuck(a key vehicle for expressing stress)


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When I need to consult with amental health professional?

Most will nothave a multi-disciplinary clinic You can often patch together a teamo Look to good local agency serving people with IDs

& learn the name of an experienced social worker/

psychologist

o Who may also know a good psychiatristo Get a physical before going to a psychiatrist!o

Behaviorists can help (Have they raised their ownkids?)


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Loss of a loved one:Recommendations

o People may grieve differently (because ofphotographic visual memory)

o They tend to replay memories over and over:and be overcome with emotions each time

o Butit is in the moment not long lastingo When done, divert to something elseo If continuous: look for triggers (what sets off)


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Does social life and activitiesend after graduation?

o Many have social life far greater than youand I

o Special Olympicso Special recreationo If none in your community do a movie and

pizza night


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2. SEX


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Sex Ed is so much more thanSex

n Pride (Hygiene)n Learning appropriate

boundaries

n Predators > target theInnocent & uninformed


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3. Finally: The Pace

n People with Down syndrome have areputation for having two speeds:

SLOW

and SLOWER


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We can learn so much from people withDown syndrome

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Dennis McGuire: Mental Wellness and Good Health in Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome