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General discussion169differences, even though availing of them could relieve both the patient and the practitioner (Chapter 6).The high level of discontinuity of caregivers in the formal network is a concern for practitioners, because this does not benefit the collaboration, including information exchange (Chapter 6). 38 This is also connected to the current shortage of healthcare professionals in the job market. 39 To provide longitudinal and relational continuity, it is important that professionals in the formal network of patients with MH problems and MID are retained. Box 7.4. Recommendations to strengthen the supportive role of patients’ (in)formal networksWhat practitioners can doy Determine the key persons in a patient’s life and actively involve them in the mental health (MH) trajectoryy Clearly communicate expectations regarding the networky Pay attention to the capacity and knowledge of the network and provide, or advise, additional support and training when neededy Refer to the municipalities when (extra) formal support is needed in the social domainWhat practitioners’ and patients’ networks can doy Ensure that formal patients’ networks acquire sufficient available training and peer supervisiony Become familiar with existing communication tools to support people with both mild intellectual disability (MID) and MH problemsWhat health policymakers can doy Supplement the relevant Dutch College of General Practitioners’ (NHG) guidelines with specific recommendations regarding involving the network of this patient populationy Further develop training programmes that meet the needs of practitioners’ and patients’ networks to optimize their collaborationy Pay attention to factors that positively influence the job satisfaction of professionals, such as appropriate caseload, clear work tasks, and good training and peer supervision opportunitiesy Ensure an available clear regional overview of the possibilities of support in the social domain and how this support can be obtainedWhat researchers can doy Focus on the perspective of persons in patients’ networks regarding their role, needs, and expectations in the support and care of patients with both MID and MH problems7Katrien Pouls sHL.indd 169 24-06-2024 16:26