European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability

Big news! A new partnership for inclusion and mental health.

We're thrilled to share that EAMHID and Plena Inclusion Spain have officially joined forces! 🎉

Today, May 6 2026, we signed a cooperation agreement to work side by side for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — strengthening mental health, promoting inclusion, and improving quality of life across Europe. 🌍

Together, we'll be working on:
✅ Joint training to improve support practices
✅ New strategies for mental health and inclusion
✅ Sharing scientific and hands-on knowledge ✅ More visibility and advocacy
✅ Accessible info, translations, and adapted materials
✅ Webinars, conferences, and joint events
✅ New European projects and initiatives

Because real change happens when we work together. 💙

Together, we make a difference.

Dear members and interested parties,
we want to point out our 5th Internationat Joint Seminar with St. Lukas-Klinik, NEED and the Anton Došen Foundation on 7th of May 2026

Advanced Aspects of Emotional Development (SEO/ED) in People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

More information about fees and registration are available in the file enclosed.

acrobat.adobe.com

Big news for the 16th EAMHID Congress!
We just had the pleasure of visiting our future venue, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!
The Thessaloniki Concert Hall is nothing short of breathtaking. Designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, this iconic landmark sits right on the waterfront of Thessaloniki, where the sea breeze meets stunning architecture that blends contemporary design with echoes of the city’s rich Byzantine heritage.
With a main auditorium seating over 1,400, multiple flexible halls accommodating from 100 to 500 guests, and cutting-edge technology throughout, this venue is perfectly equipped to host our congress in style. Whether it’s plenary sessions, workshops, or networking moments, the Concert Hall has it all — including a magnificent multi-level foyer bathed in natural light and overlooking the Thermaic Gulf. 🌊
And the location? Simply wonderful. Just minutes from Thessaloniki’s vibrant city centre, easily accessible by car, bus or a scenic stroll along the newly renovated waterfront promenade.
We are thrilled to be bringing the 16th EAMHID Congress to such a remarkable and inspiring setting. Stay tuned for more updates — this is going to be one to remember! 💙🤍💛

On 28 januari 2026 the EAMHID members had the opporyunity to attend a webinar on: Understanding Meaning in Stereotyped and Self-Injurious Behaviour: A Child-Centred, Step-by-Step Approach. The presenter was prof. dr Paula Sterkenburg.

58 psychiatrists, psychologist and pedagogues managed to join and participate during question time and in the chats. The strength of the approach, as illustrated through four case studies, lies in its systematic exploration of the possible functions that such behaviours may serve.

The Dutch book is in the process of translation and will be ready in the summer. This is the link to the Dutch version: https://bartimeus.nl/alle-publicaties/boek-begrijp-je-me-goed

Today is the International day of Persons with Disabilities, an important moment to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
EAMHID joins organisations across Europe and beyond in marking this important celebration, which reminds us that inclusion is not a slogan, but a continuous commitment to rights, dignity, and equal participation. Across our network, we witness every day the talent, resilience, and contributions of persons with disabilities…but we also see the barriers that persist in accessing decent employment, housing, education, digital access, and community life.
Removing these barriers is not just a social imperative — it is a collective responsibility.
Mental health and wellbeing for persons with intellectual disabilities are not optional add-ons — they are human rights that must be embedded in every system, every policy, every community. EAMHID stands at the intersection of research, practice, and human dignity — building bridges, advancing knowledge, and championing the right of every person to flourish.

Very interesting vacancy: Assistant Clinical Professor/Associate Clinical Professor - School of Social Policy and Society - 106600 - Clinical

Assistant Clinical Professor/Associate Clinical Professor - School of Social Policy and Society - 106600 - Clinical The University of Birmingham is seeking to appoint an Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry or a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry within the newly established Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute (IDRIS) in collaboration with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care...

“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.”

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗛𝗜𝗗!
At , more than 50 volunteers made the difference. You couldn't miss them, wearing their red shirts 👚 🔴.

They welcomed participants, guided people through the ICC building, supported speakers during the Q&A’s, shared stories and input as part of the inclusive communications team, and even showed the beauty of Ghent as city guides.

This congress was not just talking about inclusion – it was about putting it into practice. And that was only possible thanks to our volunteers.

THANK YOU ❤️

A week ago today self-advocate Harry Roche gave a keynote on the rights of people with disabilities to make their own decisions. He spoke with a clear passion for advocacy, accessibility and human rights. And he reminded us that most of all, we need to make the change together.