Being healthy and feeling well is about more than just the absence of illness. It’s about finding balance, strength, and joy in daily life — even when living with medical conditions or disabilities. In this session, groups explored the eight dimensions of wellness and learned how each one contributes to a fuller, healthier life. Groups also shared practical tips and strategies to help people with co-occurring conditions live their best life.

Our relationships shape who we become. The people we connect with – friends, family, and supporters – play a big role in how we see ourselves and how we grow. This is true for all children, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other cognitive disabilities with co-occurring mental health conditions. Positive relationships are the building blocks of a healthy future, influencing self-worth, safety, health, and well-being. These sessions explored how supportive relationships help children build a strong foundation for adulthood.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities, and co-occurring mental health conditions need support for their whole well-being. These sessions explored how each of us has a part to play in changing the way these support systems work. The sessions focused on how we can partner with others to influence these systems as a community of people with lived experience, families, professionals, systems advocates, etc.

We all have ups and downs in life, and how we handle those feelings is called emotion regulation. It’s about being able to control our emotions on purpose. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions and the people who support them may benefit from being aware of and learning ways to maintain their wellness during challenging or confusing times. These sessions focused on those ways to be more aware and also presented strategies and tools to help people manage their emotions.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions often come into contact with the justice system in various ways. These sessions focused on ways to prevent involvement with the justice system. Groups discussed various touch points in the justice system where support can be offered, ensuring individuals get the resources and understanding they need. Additionally, the sessions covered how to help them successfully reintegrate into society by connecting them with community resources and support networks.

People with mental health disabilities and I/DD, brain injuries, or other cognitive differences are often punished for engaging in what many people call “risky behaviors” like self-injury, perceived aggression, and inappropriate conduct. When punished for these things rather than understood and supported, it is more likely they will continue to do things that hurt themselves or others.  These sessions discussed ways people can support those with lived experience to reduce harm while allowing everyone to keep their autonomy.

People with co-occurring conditions require person-centered, whole person care that requires physical, behavioral, emotional, mental health, and social supports, services, and resources that aim to improve well-being and outcomes. These sessions explored personal experiences, models, strategies, practices, and resources that embrace a whole person approach to support.

Unfortunately, people with co-occurring conditions may experience extended stays in acute settings like emergency departments or psychiatric hospitals but may no longer require this level care. This leads to adverse outcomes and treatment delays. These sessions explored practices, strategies, and resources that support integrated, seamless transitions from acute settings to community settings.

People with disabilities are more likely than people without to experience adverse events such as abuse, neglect, and medical trauma. These sessions discussed SAMHSA’s six principles of a trauma-informed approach focusing on tools and examples for applying them into supporting people with co-occurring conditions.

For people with co-occurring conditions, it is critical to have options to get necessary support and care at every stage of crisis. In order to do this, we need trained people supporting someone during times of crisis. These sessions explored the importance of crisis support and planning for people with I/DD and mental health conditions, sharing resources related to supporting someone in crisis.