Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG54/6

Question

The experiences of people with learning disabilities and mental health problems in services:- What experience do people with learning disabilities have of services designed to prevent and treat mental health problems and how does this relate to clinical outcomes?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Mental health service provision for people with learning disabilities is complex and varies across the UK. There appears to be no high-quality evidence or ongoing research for any particular approach. Evidence on the experiences, aspirations and mental health of young people as they prepare for adulthood would help in the development of preventative strategies. Evidence on what service models are most effective and acceptable to people with learning disabilities would help to improve service design, staffing decisions and patient outcomes. This is also an area of national priority, as explained in the NHS Five Year Forward View.

- To understand what experience people with learning disabilities have of services, a series of studies covering the following should be conducted:
The experiences and life course trajectories of young people (aged 13–17 years) in terms of their aspirations and goals, including whether the support they and their families get affects their mental health and their expected outcomes as they prepare for adulthood.

- The experience people have of mental health inpatient services (specialist learning disability services or non-specialist services), including factors that may have prevented the need for admission and how inpatient admission affects them. Studies should include economic modelling.

- The experience people have of being discharged from mental health inpatient services (specialist learning disability services or non-specialist services), after a stay of one year or more. In particular: the factors that may have helped them to be discharged earlier, what support is effective after discharge, and how to lower the risk of readmission.

- The experiences people have during a crisis, including how effective crisis support is in meeting their needs, minimising risk and helping them recover.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities: prevention, assessment and management

Number

NG54

Date issued

September 2016

Other details