Many people with developmental or intellectual disabilities also have one or more co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or bipolar disorder. These co-existing conditions – also known as dual diagnosis – often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms and other complications. But understanding dual diagnosis is a crucial part of helping affected individuals thrive. When dual diagnosis conditions are properly identified, treatment planning can be tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs and improve their quality of life.
Promoting a strong understanding of dual diagnosis among families, healthcare providers, educators, and the wider community can also help to ensure the best possible outcomes. To that end, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) will be holding a free Dual Diagnosis Workshop on Wednesday, January 24 at 7:00pm on Zoom. Presenter Lucille Esralew, Ph.D. is a clinician, educator, and consultant. She has been particularly interested in building capacity to provide mental health and behavioral health services for individuals with complex needs and increasing the caregiving resources of families and staff who serve individuals with the co-occurring challenges of mental illness and developmental disabilities.
The Dual Diagnosis Workshop is free and open to the community. To register and receive the Zoom link, visit https://jfcssnj.org/workshop.
