This is a difficult topic, but an important one.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience mental health challenges at nearly twice the rate of the general population. Suicide risk within this community is real, underrecognized, and often misunderstood.
We've put together a new resource on suicide prevention and IDD. It's designed to help families, direct support professionals, and others in the disability community know what to watch for and how to respond.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
Standard assessment tools often fall short. Many clinical screening tools aren't accessible for people with IDD. They may rely on abstract thinking, use language that's hard to understand, or not account for input from family and caregivers. That means family members, friends, and support professionals are often best positioned to notice when something is wrong.
Warning signs may show up in behavior, not words. Many people with IDD don't express distress verbally. Watch for changes like withdrawing from activities or relationships, shifts in mood or appetite, unexplained injuries, or expressions of hopelessness—even indirect ones like, "I wish I hadn't woken up today."
How you respond matters. Avoid dismissive phrases like "you don't mean that." Instead, ask direct questions, acknowledge the person’s feelings, and make clear they're not in trouble for sharing how they feel.
In a crisis, know where to turn. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free, anonymous, 24/7 support. If there's immediate risk of harm, call 911 and ask if Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers are available to respond to a mental health crisis.
