Dr Sarah Bernard and Professor Jeremy Turk, two psychiatrists from South Maudsley and London NHS Trust presented a fascinating talk about how Future in Mind aims to support young people with Learning Disabilities.
Jeremy began by giving some context of new terminology in the field; using the new term of ‘intellectual disability’ or ‘intellectual developmental disorder’ rather than learning disability. This is to be implemented in the DSM-5 and ICD-10. The DSM-5 no longer talks about IQ in relation to learning disabilities and instead now uses three deficit domains: 1- Conceptual, 2- Social and 3- Practical. He further highlighted comments made by Professor Chris Oliver of Birmingham University, that we do not need any more research on mental health in intellectual disability, we know what needs to happen but we just need to do it.
Jeremy began by giving some context of new terminology in the field; using the new term of ‘intellectual disability’ or ‘intellectual developmental disorder’ rather than learning disability. This is to be implemented in the DSM-5 and ICD-10. The DSM-5 no longer talks about IQ in relation to learning disabilities and instead now uses three deficit domains: 1- Conceptual, 2- Social and 3- Practical. He further highlighted comments made by Professor Chris Oliver of Birmingham University, that we do not need any more research on mental health in intellectual disability, we know what needs to happen but we just need to do it.
Sarah then took over to talk through the Future in Mind initiative. She described how tiered services were introduced in the 1990’s to reduce waiting times. Future in Mind‘s approach is that tiered services create barriers for people accessing services and therefore would like to eliminate these tiers. At the same time, Sarah outlined how there is a there is difficulty in creating a pathway at both a local and National level for services for children and young people with Learning Disabilities, Autism or high functioning Autism and how this needs to improve.
Some of Future in Mind’s aims by 2020 are: improving bonding with families, working in partnership with families and a holistic approach including the involvement of schools and social services. Alongside, evidence based therapies and using research to actually influence clinical practice. The need for crisis services was also made apparent, as currently there are no inpatient beds in the south of England and only three specialist units in the country.
An example of Southwark borough with given to highlight further why Future in Mind’s approach should be applied to all child and adolescent services for intellectual disabilities.
Some of Future in Mind’s aims by 2020 are: improving bonding with families, working in partnership with families and a holistic approach including the involvement of schools and social services. Alongside, evidence based therapies and using research to actually influence clinical practice. The need for crisis services was also made apparent, as currently there are no inpatient beds in the south of England and only three specialist units in the country.
An example of Southwark borough with given to highlight further why Future in Mind’s approach should be applied to all child and adolescent services for intellectual disabilities.
Some further reading around the subject include:
- Hassiotis A and Turk (2012). Mental health needs in adolescents with intellectual disabilities: cross-sectional survey of a service sample.
- Mark Lovell and Orlee Udwin (2014). Intellectual Disabilities and challenging Behaviours.
Author: Emily Pearson and Rachael Ryan
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