Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month invites us to reflect on the importance of emotional well-being. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), mental health needs are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or untreated due to systemic gaps, stigma, and a shortage of trained providers.
At Kramer Davis Health, we believe these conversations must include everyone and be led by people with disabilities themselves. Too often, individuals with IDD are left out of the mental health dialogue, despite offering valuable insight into how communities can better support one another.
This month, we’re proud to highlight Eric Massey, a self-advocate and member of the Kramer Davis Health Advisory Committee. Eric is also a passionate Special Olympics Health Messenger in Tennessee, committed to living a healthy lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same. His perspective reminds us that mental well-being belongs to everyone and that simple, everyday actions can make a real difference.
Eric’s Tips for Mental Wellness:
- Every action, big or small, counts.
- Believe in everything you do.
- Tell your story—people want to know what works in real life!
Eric’s work is grounded in a family committed to wellness and advocacy. His mother, Dr. LaShaunda Massey, a clinical psychologist, reminds us:
“Mental ‘health’ is not a given. We have to promote strategies for mental health that we engage in daily—from how we organize our schedules to how we make time for self-expression.”
That perspective reflects the values we hold at Kramer Davis Health. Supporting the emotional wellness of people with IDD is essential to whole-person care. Our clinic, based in Hermitage, Tennessee, is designed for adolescents and adults with IDD ages 13 and up. Founded by Dr. Matthew Holder and Dr. Henry Hood of the renowned Lee Specialty Clinic, Kramer Davis Health uses a revolutionary transdisciplinary model to deliver compassionate, coordinated care tailored to each individual.
Our sensory-friendly, fully accessible space brings together a passionate team of providers with deep experience and ongoing training in IDD healthcare. We’re proud to center our work around the people we serve, because their voices, goals, and well-being matter most.
As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminded that mental health is not separate from healthcare. It’s at the heart of it. At Kramer Davis Health, we’re committed to creating inclusive, person-centered care that supports the mental and emotional well-being of people with IDD—not just this month, but every day.
References
Rubin, I.L., Fahs, J.J., Beasley, J.B. (2007). Delivery of Health Care for People With “Dual Diagnosis”: From the Person to the Policy. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 10, No. 3.
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of the United States. Health, mental health, vision, and dental care: Joint position statement of AAIDD and The Arc (2013).