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The FPLD is part of the Mental Health Foundation
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Count Us In

The mental health of young people with learning disabilities is important to the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.

 

We collected a lot of information about young people and mental health.

 

Then we asked a group of people to tell us what they thought about the information. Some of the people had learning disabilities. We wrote what we found out in a report and booklet.

In October 2001, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities undertook an inquiry to find out how services, families and carers can meet the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities aged 13 to 25.

 

The inquiry committee was led by Professor Barry Carpenter and Dr Mary Lindsey. It was advised by young people from Generate, a voluntary organisation for people with moderate learning disabilities. They ensured that the voices of young people with learning disabilities were heard.

 

The committee considered oral and written evidence from across the UK. The evidence included:

 

  • feedback from focus groups

  • completed forms from young people with learning disabilities and professionals

  • presentations by family carers, professionals and researchers

  • reports of visits by committee members

  • family stories

  • commissioned papers

  • contributions from an online conference 

 

As a result of this inquiry, we produced a report and two booklets which provide information about the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people with learning disabilities.

 

Following this inquiry we completed another project about young people with learning disabilities and mental health called Making Us Count.

 

Publications and resources

 

Count Us In 

 

The report describes ways of supporting young people with learning disabilities to be emotionally strong, through education, support for young people and their families, friendships and advocacy.  It explores ways that services should work together to respond to the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience mental health problems.

 

 

Meeting the emotional needs of young people with learning disabilities: a booklet for parents and carers

 

This booklet draws on the first hand experiences of young people and family carers who told the Inquiry committee what they needed. It describes ways of supporting teenagers and young adults to feel good about themselves. It also suggests how to gain support for young people if they have mental health difficulties.

 

 

All About Feeling Down : a booklet for young people with learning disabilities

 

This booklet draws directly on the sources of happiness and sadness reported by more than 100 young people with learning disabilities, revealing who they talked to and the support they needed when they felt sad.

 

 

The Inquiry was funded by the Baily Thomas Charitable Trust

 

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