“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (WHO definitition of Health)
Like the rest of the population, the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities is best understood in a much wider context of their general well-being, their supports and networks, their family and social setting and the broader aspects of the society that have significant impacts on their health and health inequalities. The Congress will bring together current knowledge and expertise in this wider context, looking at how people with intellectual disabilities, their families and their social and professional networks all have important experience and skills to contribute and share in creating and developing effective, collaborative and co-productive models of service provision.

Through the range of symposia, poster sessions and workshops we will stimulate dialogue between different approaches on the same subject with speakers from different countries, cultures, and theoretical perspectives.
Another challenge will be a first attempt to involve service users and families in dedicated sessions. Inclusive workshops will be provided for this purpose at the 2017 Congress in Luxembourg