Disability and Mental Health: Support for Adults With Disabilities
Disability and mental health are closely related, yet mental health care often overlooks the realities adults with disabilities have to deal with every day. Living with a physical disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, intellectual disability, or something else can shape how accessible care truly is.
Effective disability mental health services honor your self-direction, identity, and lived experience rather than force care into stiff models. But the reality is that for a lot of adults with disabilities, mental health challenges are not from the disability itself. Instead, they’re often from the barriers around getting through systems that overlook accessibility.
If you have a co-occurring disability and mental health issue, compassionate support that understands invisible barriers to care is available. The team at Mission Connection is here for you every step of the way. This page can also help you better understand how to access effective, inclusive mental health care for adults with disabilities, as it explores:
- How disability and mental health intersect
- The mental health challenges adults with disabilities may face
- Barriers to mental health care
- What inclusive mental health care looks like and therapy for adults with disabilities
- Answers to commonly asked questions about the link between disability and mental health
The Connection Between Disability and Mental Health
Having a disability does not inherently mean you have a mental health condition. It’s just that the experiences that often accompany disability can greatly impact your mental health and emotional well-being. Whether you’re dealing with something like physical disability, chronic illness, or intellectual disability and mental health, you’re likely to encounter things like accessibility barriers, social stigma, or financial strain.
And for neurodivergent adults, mental health is often shaped by years of masking, misunderstanding, or being expected to function within environments that don’t support different ways of thinking or processing. Similarly, those with sensory disabilities may experience heightened anxiety or exhaustion from managing spaces that are overstimulating or inaccessible, underscoring the close relationship between mental health and sensory disabilities.
Understanding the connection between disability and mental health helps shift the focus away from “fixing” disability and toward providing inclusive mental health care for adults.
Common Mental Health Challenges Adults With Disabilities May Experience
Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Disabilities
Anxiety and depression are common among adults with disabilities. Much of this comes from the constant need to plan for safety, access, transportation, and medical care. Many people with disabilities often spend a lot of time and mental energy preparing for obstacles before they even arise, which adds significant stress to their nervous systems.
In fact, research indicates that 43.6% of adults with disabilities report experiencing depression, compared to 13.7% of those without disabilities.2 This higher rate may be linked to the additional struggles and barriers they face daily. Studies have also found that people with chronic health conditions, such as chronic pain, experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, with rates around 40%.3
Trauma and Disability
Too many people experience trauma. This is especially true for adults with disabilities, especially those with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses, for whom trauma can be closely related to medical care, such as when they’re experiencing repeated or invasive procedures. This can also be the case when people feel like they’ve lost the ability to make decisions about their own body, life, and future.
Research shows that around 4.8% of people with disabilities feel that their providers don’t treat them with respect.4 These experiences may lead to them avoiding getting care and more anxiety around healthcare settings, including those involving mental health.
Social Isolation
Many adults with disabilities often face feelings of social isolation and loneliness. One particular study found that nearly one-third of working adults with disabilities feel lonely, left out, or lack any sort of companionship.5 The lack of connection and social support can worsen mental health concerns, as support is an important factor for overall health in general.6
Barriers to Mental Health Care for Adults With Disabilities
Even when you know support could help, if you have a disability, you might still find it difficult to navigate the healthcare system. The following are some of the common physical and invisible barriers someone might face.
Physical, Sensory, and Structural Barriers
For those dealing with physical disabilities or chronic illness, accessibility continues to be a concern when seeking mental health care. Limits in transportation, inaccessible buildings, or fatigue or discomfort can all make it difficult to attend appointments.
And for people with sensory disabilities, therapy environments that are overstimulating can increase anxiety rather than reduce it. While telehealth has helped with managing healthcare for adults with disabilities, it does not solve every challenge, particularly for those who require additional accommodations or structured support.
Communication and Cognitive Barriers
Therapy may be difficult for some people with a disability, especially those with an intellectual disability or who are neurodivergent. In particular, these people may experience difficulties in communicating or processing information due to cognitive differences.
They may find themselves experiencing a type of therapy where they’re expected to use verbal processing, process at a rapid pace, and/or be able to pick up on abstract language. All of which may be barriers to understanding and processing the information that is being said in therapy. So, if a provider does not accommodate the above differences, then the session may become too overwhelming and/or unproductive.
Stigma and Dismissal
Being stigmatized or having concerns dismissed are also challenges many adults with disabilities face. Their mental health concerns are sometimes seen as simply a consequence of their disability, rather than their circumstances, which is known as “diagnostic overshadowing.”7 And it can leave people feeling dismissed and discouraged from reaching out for help.
Therapy That Supports Adults With Disabilities
We list some potentially suitable options below.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Research has shown that CBT is effective in helping people with chronic illness, especially chronic pain.8 CBT works by identifying and challenging automatic negative thoughts that can contribute to emotional distress.
If you’re dealing with a chronic illness, for example, this might look like bringing awareness to the unhelpful thoughts related to pain, fatigue, or uncertainty. For example, thinking that your body is broken and you’ll never be able to do anything on your own again. Then, you’ll learn to challenge such thoughts and work to replace them with more supportive ones that recognize your limitations without tying them to your self-worth and identity.
Emotion Regulation Skills
Learning to regulate emotions, through mindfulness-based approaches, can help you build awareness of what you’re going through without judgment. These practices often include deep breathing, grounding, or body-based awareness that your providers can adapt to your physical or sensory needs.
These strategies promote mindfulness and emotional regulation in adults, helping reduce overwhelm while bringing you a greater sense of stability and self-compassion.
Trauma-Focused Therapies
Many people experience trauma, but those with disabilities are disproportionately affected, especially those with chronic illness or intellectual disabilities.9 For those affected by trauma and disability mental health, trauma-focused therapies emphasize safety, pacing, and nervous system regulation.
Group and Peer-Based Support
Social connection helps both physical and mental health.10 Peer support groups for disabled adults, as well as therapy groups, can help people feel less isolated and validate their experiences.
Group settings also offer life skills, such as allowing people to practice communication, helping them set boundaries, and promoting coping together rather than alone.
Mission Connection: Compassionate Care That Meets You Where You Are
Living with a disability often involves added stresses and pressures that can worsen challenges related to your mental health. If you’re finding that your mental health is being affected and you’re having a hard time finding the right support, Mission Connection is here to help.
We offer adults with disabilities accessible and flexible outpatient mental health care that supports your lived experiences. We also provide care through multiple platforms; in-person at our offices around the country or remotely (by video or phone). This means we can meet you where you are and work within your physical, cognitive, and/or sensory limits. Whether you’re experiencing the physical effects of a disability, neurodiversity, the emotional effects of a chronic illness, or something else, we approach mental health from an individualized perspective and do not rely on rigid treatment models.
If you’re seeking inclusive mental health care that acknowledges your experiences and does not require you to be someone other than who you are, contact Mission Connection today. We can tell you more about our services and help you take the first steps towards compassionate mental health care designed to support your life.
FAQs About Mental Health Support for Adults with Disabilities
If you’re living with a disability and are experiencing mental health issues, it’s natural to have some ongoing questions after the information on this page. This is why we’ve provided the following answers to FAQs on the topic.
Is a Mental Health Problem a Disability?
The ACA defines a physical or mental condition as a disability when it significantly limits one or more major life activities.11 Therefore, a mental health condition may be considered a disability if it’s significantly impacting your life in some way.
Is Telehealth Therapy Effective for Adults With Disabilities?
Many people with disabilities, especially those who have mobility issues, find telehealth therapy effective. The virtual nature of the therapy may help to lower anxiety and provide greater access to care. Telehealth, however, will not always meet the needs of every person. Providers who work with people with disabilities will determine whether telehealth meets your specific needs and modify the treatment as necessary. When used thoughtfully, telehealth can be a valuable part of mental health support for adults with disabilities, expanding access without sacrificing quality.
How to Support People With Disabilities?
Supporting people with disabilities begins with listening and respecting autonomy. Rather than assuming what someone needs, it’s helpful to ask and remain open to feedback. Providing practical support, like advocating for accessibility, offering support or flexibility, and challenging stigma, can also help support those with disabilities. And finally, validating someone’s experience can reduce social isolation and strengthen connections.
How Does Mission Connection Support Adults With Disabilities?
We support adults with disabilities by providing personalized outpatient therapy that is tailored to the physical, cognitive, or sensory needs of each person. Our clinicians will work with you to make sure each treatment episode is accessible and trauma-focused, as well as create a space where you feel seen, heard, and understood.
References
- Disability and Health. (2025, April 8). Many Adults with Disabilities Report Frequent Mental Distress. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/adults-with-disabilities-mental-distress.html
- Disability and Health. (2025, April 8). Disability and health data now. https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-and-health-data-now.html
- Aaron, R. V., Ravyts, S. G., Carnahan, N. D., Bhattiprolu, K., Harte, N., McCaulley, C. C., Vitalicia, L., Rogers, A. B., Wegener, S. T., & Dudeney, J. (2025). Prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults with chronic pain. JAMA Network Open, 8(3), e250268. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0268
- Otto, F. (2025, March 11). Survey shows patients with disabilities less likely to feel respect from doctors. Penn Today. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-medicine-survey-shows-patients-disabilities-less-likely-feel-respect-doctors
- Salinger, M., & Clark, M. A. (2025). Disproportionate loneliness burden demonstrated in two national samples of Working-Age adults with varied disability types. Annals of Internal Medicine, 178(11), 1670–1673. https://doi.org/10.7326/annals-25-00928
- Cambieri, G. (2025, June 4). The importance of connections: Ways to live a longer, healthier life. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/the-importance-of-connections-ways-to-live-a-longer-healthier-life/
- Hallyburton, A. (2022). Diagnostic overshadowing: An evolutionary concept analysis on the misattribution of physical symptoms to pre‐existing psychological illnesses. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 31(6), 1360–1372. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13034
- Lim, J., Choi, S., Lee, W. J., Jang, J. H., Moon, J. Y., Kim, Y. C., & Kang, D. (2018). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with chronic pain. Medicine, 97(23), e10867. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000010867
- Presnell, J., MS, LSW, Keesler, J. M., PhD, LMSW, Thomas-Giyer, J., MSW, Indiana University School of Social Work, & Aries Systems Corporation. (2021). Assessing Alignment between Intellectual and Developmental Disability Service Providers and Trauma-Informed Care: An Exploratory Study. In Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities [Journal-article]. https://www.aaidd.org/docs/default-source/prepressarticles/idd-d-21-00053_r2.pdf?sfvrsn=30493e21_0
- Holt‐Lunstad, J. (2024). Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World Psychiatry, 23(3), 312–332. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21224
- ADA National Network. (n.d.). Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace and the ADA. https://adata.org/factsheet/health