News Release, 7 December 2001
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, part of the Mental Health Foundation, is asking parents and families of young people with learning disabilities to write in if they have ever been concerned about that person's mental health needs.
The call for family stories forms part of a one-year Inquiry into the mental health needs of children and young people with learning disabilities.
"Across the UK there are over 300,000 children and young people with learning disabilities aged between 13 and 24, and we estimate that up to four out of ten of these young people may also have some form of mental health problem," said Hazel Morgan, head of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities. "Despite this, the mental health needs of young people with learning disabilities have been severely neglected until now. We want to bring together the evidence that will change future services and practice, so that young people with learning disabilities get the support that they need not only in addressing mental health problems but also to promote emotional wellbeing and build self-esteem."
The Foundation believes that learning disability services have tended to focus on practical rather than emotional issues. As one young person said "I never really learned how to make friends, how to fool around and hang out, or how to talk to and tease girls. I never really learned how to be a 'guy'."
Adolescence is known to be a period of change which makes people more vulnerable to mental health problems are more common, and this can be heightened in young people with learning disabilities who are more likely to experience bullying and to have fewer friends.
Further information on Count Us In the Inquiry into the mental health needs of young people with learning disabilities.
Return to news releases 2001
Note to editors
For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
The Foundation promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families. We do this by working with people with learning disabilities, their families and those who support them to:
- Do research and develop projects that promote social inclusion and citizenship
- Support local communities and services to include people with learning disabilities
- Make practical improvements in services for people with learning disabilities
- Spread knowledge and information.
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