Meeting the mental health needs of a young person with an intellectual disability: a case study
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Meeting the mental health needs of a young person with an intellectual disability: a case study

Paul Sutton Visiting fellow, learning disabilities, College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London, London, England
Dorothy Kupara Senior lecturer and course leader in learning disability nursing, College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London, London, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To understand that the health needs of young people with intellectual disabilities often go unrecognised

  • To enhance your knowledge of the challenges for this client group in accessing services and interventions

  • To familiarise yourself with the support required to enable young people with intellectual disabilities to continue living with their families

Young people with intellectual disabilities are at greater risk of developing mental health issues. However, their mental health needs are often not recognised and therefore remain untreated.

This article discusses a case study concerning a young man with a mild intellectual disability and co-existing obsessive-compulsive disorder, which was first identified in adolescence. It describes his experience of accessing appropriate services and interventions, and details the care and support that he received from community-based services, which enabled him to continue living with his family. The case study reveals various issues that are relevant to other young people in similar situations, as well as for service providers and professionals, including intellectual disability nurses.

Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2021.e2166

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@wakups

Correspondence

Paul.Sutton@uwl.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Sutton P, Kupara D (2021) Meeting the mental health needs of a young person with an intellectual disability: a case study. Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2021.e2166

Published online: 11 November 2021

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