Making mental health inclusive: supporting people with learning disabilities

Healthwatch Surrey wanted to understand how access to and experiences of emotional wellbeing and mental health support for people with a learning disability can be improved. They reached people with a learning disability, their families and carers via a survey and focus groups.  They spoke to 117 people.

Although the family and carers of those with learning disabilities generally feel able to recognise if the person they care for is struggling with their feelings and emotions, the person they care for may not be able to recognise it in themselves. The importance of families and carers to those with learning disabilities is therefore two-fold; they are a support mechanism in themselves and are also essential for recognition of emotional distress.

Relatives and carers may not know the most appropriate way to get help and support when they recognise emotional distress. They are often not turning to those with specific mental health training or those equipped to direct them to the most appropriate sources of support. Professionals may also be unsure whether the support should come from learning disability or mental health services.

For those with a learning disability and their families to benefit from support for emotional wellbeing, it needs to be accessible and tailored to their specific needs. However, less than two-thirds of respondents (16 of 27) felt that the services were accessible for the person they care for.

Anyone aged 14 or over who is on their GPs learning disability register should have an annual health check; it’s an opportunity to identify any health problems and to help people stay well. However, when asked if emotional wellbeing was included in their annual health check, only a third (33%) felt it was.

Carers (both paid and unpaid) need to be equipped to deal with changes in the emotional wellbeing of the people they care for, particularly recognising when distress merits further intervention and knowing who they can refer to. This includes being able to access services which are coordinated and integrated with other areas of care, as well as being fully accessible and tailored to the specific needs of those with a learning disability. Primary care plays an integral role here and an increased focus on emotional wellbeing, for people with learning disabilities as well as their carers, is required.