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Children and young people with learning disabilities: understanding their mental health – an information pack
Extract from Summary Version: Research demonstrates that an estimated 25-40% of people with learning disabilities have mental health problems. Evidence compiled by the Public Health Observatory for Learning Disability shows the following:
- A prevalence rate of 3% for schizophrenia amongst people with learning disabilities (three times greater than for the general population), with higher rates for people of South Asian origin
- Levels of anxiety and depression are similar to those of the general population (though higher in people with Down's syndrome).
- The prevalence rate of a diagnosable psychiatric disorder is 36% in children and adolescents with learning disabilities, as opposed to 8% in those who do not have a learning disability.
Mental health problems may be worsened for those with greater support needs, particularly if they are unable to communicate about their feelings or communicate their distress (it may result in this behaviour mistakenly being seen to be challenging).
As a result, changes in emotional wellbeing in children and adults with high support needs may easily be overlooked by those who care for them, particularly if they have high levels of medical needs.
Research by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities clearly identified that people with profound and multiple learning disabilities do experience mental health problems, often for reasons similar to those of the general population.
However, identifying the signs and symptoms that indicate changes in the emotional and mental wellbeing of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities takes longer, and it is often family members who are best-placed to identify such changes.
Some key factors that often contribute to a change in emotional well-being include physical health, loss and bereavement (this could be a change of support or bus driver who takes the child to school, as well as the loss of a family member), change and transition to adulthood.
Summary Version:
Information Pack: http://www.youngminds.org.uk/assets/0001/0610/children-and-young-people.pdf
Obesity and disability - children and young people
This paper examines the evidence linking obesity and disability in children and young people. It looks at a range of impairments or health conditions associated with disability
and
explores the main obesity-related chronic health conditions that can develop during childhood and adolescence.
It also highlights:
- inequalities experienced by children and young people in relation to obesity and disability
- implications for policy, practice and research
- survey data on obesity and limiting long-term illness or disability
Published in March 2014 in the UK
Download: Obesity and disability - children and young people - http://www.noo.org.uk/gsf.php5?f=312592&fv=19821
Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Freedom! National event for people with learning disabilities – Leeds (UK) in June 2014. Can you help us with our plans?
From Shaun Webster: CHANGE is organising a national event for all people with learning disabilities. This will take place in Leeds on Thursday 26 June. We are sending out some information in advance, so that everyone can plan ahead and this will make it easier for people with learning disabilities to come.
I hope that you will be as excited about this event as I am. I think that this is an important and very real opportunity for people with learning disabilities to be leaders in closing down institutions here in the UK and across Europe. I want people with learning disabilities to have real choice and control over their lives.
I would like your support. Please can you:
- Promote this event and pass the word around to people with learning disabilities
- Ask me for a flyer to post on your website, Face book page, Twitter and other social media
- Include information about this event in any newsletters
We also would like other self-advocacy organisations to join with us in planning and leading this event please get in touch with me if you feel able to help or want more information. I would love to talk to you about it. Thank you!
Shaun Webster, European Project Coordinator, CHANGE
T: 0113 388 0011
F: 0113 388 0012
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
