Family carers’ experiences of providing care for their adult relative with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems in Singapore

•Family carers experience difficulties taking care of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and mental health problems.•Accessibility to specialist mental health services is a barrier for people with ID to seek early intervention.•Having patience and passion are important attributes for mental health professionals working with people with ID.•People with ID experience difficulties adjusting back to the societies after their mental health symptoms have improved.•Family carers are worried that nobody will look after their relatives with ID when they can no longer able to do so.