scholarly journals Are we training psychiatrists to develop skills in intellectual disability psychiatry? Current European context and future directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Casanova Dias ◽  
Bhathika Perera ◽  
Florian Riese ◽  
Livia De Picker ◽  
Mariana Pinto da Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Training ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract The majority of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and psychiatric disorders access mainstream mental health services across Europe. However, only 56% of countries provide postgraduate psychiatric training in ID according to a survey across 42 European countries. We explore the challenges of ID training and make recommendations for education and health policymakers.

“When other people try to understand”: exploring the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, who also have mental health problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Sasha Martine Mattock ◽  
Kieron Beard ◽  
Amy Baddeley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities

Purpose Recent guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence highlight that service users (SUs) with intellectual disabilities and co-occurring mental health problems rarely get the opportunity to share their experiences of mental health services. Over the past 20 years, policy documents have stated that these individuals (SUs) must be included in decisions about their care. Research suggests that often this is not the case. Therefore, this paper aims to create a space for SUs to share their experiences of mental health services, and what they found helpful. Design/methodology/approach A focus group was held with five SUs, two psychologists and two researchers. The audio recording of the discussion was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Three main themes were identified, namely, “relationships with others”, “inclusion and communication” and “challenges”. This focus group highlighted that although some SUs felt supported, they reported having little control in their lives and wanted to be listened to. Research limitations/implications Including a SU in the planning and facilitation of the focus group would have made this research more inclusive. Practical implications The implications of this research suggest that by listening to and involving SUs and developing more person-centred services, recovery rates may increase as the services provided would be more targeted. Originality/value Very little research has previously been conducted to explore SUs’ experiences. This paper highlights the value of being heard and the knowledge that is often lost if the authors do not take the time to listen to the people for whom a service is designed.

Consumption of Mental Health Services by People with Intellectual Disabilities

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 430-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jane Spiller ◽  
Helen Costello ◽  
Agnieszka Bramley ◽  
Nick Bouras ◽  
Graham Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities

Mental health services for people with intellectual disability in the United Kingdom

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhathika Perera ◽  
Ken Courtenay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Services for people with intellectual disabilities in the UK have evolved over the years from hospital-based care to more community provision. There are multiple reasons for these changes, however, often it was due to changes in social policy or following a scandal in provision. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Providing services to meet the health and social care needs of people with intellectual disabilities is well-established in the four countries of the UK with support from legislation. There are often specialist mental health and social care teams. Dedicated professionals work with people with intellectual disabilities who experience mental health problems with a focus on support in the community. A range of services for children and adults and for offenders exist across the UK that often vary in composition and structure. Findings The challenges in providing mental health services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the future include recruitment and training of the workforce with the remit of enhancing community support and reduced in-patient care. Practical implications This paper helps the reader to understand how ID mental health services are organised in the UK. Originality/value This paper gives a summary of the ID mental health services in the UK. Even though there are various papers looking at different aspects of mental health services for people with ID in the UK, this paper brings all that information together to help reader get a better understanding of the mental health services for people with ID.

Mental health and emotional well-being

2018 ◽  
pp. 225-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen Barr ◽  
Bob Gates
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autistic Spectrum ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

This chapter has a strong emphasis on promoting mental health and emotional well-being. It also recognizes that people with intellectual disabilities may develop mental health problems similar to, but perhaps more frequently than, people who do not have intellectual disabilities. This chapter considers what emotional well-being is, factors contributing to mental health, and the importance of assertiveness. It then explores how to support people with intellectual disabilities to access general primary, secondary, and tertiary mental health services, before giving specific consideration to anxiety, psychotic and organic disorders, dementia, psychopathology, autistic spectrum disorders, self-harm, substance misuse, and the challenges to emotional well-being that may arise from the experience of bereavement.

People with intellectual disabilities accessing mainstream mental health services: some facts, features and professional considerations

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Jane Standen ◽  
Adam Clifford ◽  
Kiran Jeenkeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide information for non-specialists on identifying the characteristics, assessment and support needs of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) accessing mainstream services. Design/methodology/approach A review of relevant policy and research literature is supplemented with observations from the authors’ own experience of working in mental health services for people with ID. Findings With change in provision of services the likelihood of mainstream staff encountering someone with ID will increase. However, information on whether a person has ID or their level of ID is not always available to professionals in acute mental health services meeting an individual for the first time. Reliance on observational and interview-based assessments can leave people with ID vulnerable to a range of over- and under-diagnosis issues. This is as a result of difficulties with communication and emotional introspection, psychosocial masking, suggestibility, confabulation and acquiescence. For people with poor communication, carers will be the primary source of information and their contribution has to be taken into account. Practical implications Knowing or suspecting an individual has ID allows staff to take into account the various assessment, diagnosis and formulation issues that complicate a valid and reliable understanding of their mental health needs. Awareness about an individual’s ID also allows professionals to be vigilant to their own biases, where issues of diagnostic overshadowing or cognitive disintegration may be important considerations. However, understanding some of the practical and conceptual issues should ensure a cautious and critical approach to diagnosing, formulating and addressing this population’s mental health needs. Originality/value This synthesis of a review of the literature and observations from the authors’ experience of working in mental health services for people with ID provides an informed and practical briefing for those encountering people with ID accessing mainstream services.

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