First Chair in Disability and Mental Health

UNSW is to be the home of Australia's first Chair in Disability and Mental Health with $2.1 million in funding provided by the NSW government over five years.

The new position aims to foster a better understanding of the twin problems of intellectual disabilities and mental illness and to improve the quality of life for people living with these problems.

The NSW Government estimates up to 192,000 people in NSW are living with an intellectual disability. Research shows that they are two to three times more likely to also be suffering from a mental illness compared to the general community.

The researcher appointed to the position will work closely with NSW Health and with the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

"The State Government should be commended for it support of this vital initiative," says Professor Les Field, UNSW's Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research).

"We are pleased to be playing a crucial role in research in this area, as well as training those who are already, or will be, responsible for the care of these patients.

"UNSW has a world-class reputation in the field of psychiatry and already provides a number of clinical programs in this area. We will conduct an international search to attract the right person to the position."

Head of the School of Psychiatry at UNSW, Professor Philip Mitchell said : "This is a very exciting partnership between UNSW and the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care.

"There is a strong need for increasing skills in the medical and allied health fields for the management of those with intellectual disability and mental illness.

"There is a poor understanding of the reasons for the increased rates of mental illness in this population, so more research to understand this is critical."