V. Greco, B. Beresford, and H. Sutherland
Children and Society, vol. 23, 2009, p. 455-469
There is an increased prevalence of mental health problems among deaf children compared with their hearing peers. Generic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services do not have the skills and expertise to meet the needs of this group. Three teams in England provide specialist mental health services for deaf children. This study explored the experiences of 24 deaf children using these specialist mental health services and found them positive, largely due to the skills and expertise of the staff.
A. Kaehne and S. Beyer
Learning Disability Today, Nov. 2009, p. 30-31
Many people with mild, moderate and severe learning disabilities want to work but cannot find the support that they need to do so. Government policy now clearly states that every person with a learning disability should progress to paid employment, that education should be geared towards providing skills that improve the employability of students, and that all agencies should expect people with learning disabilities to work. A rising number of local projects are aiming to put this aspiration into practice. (For practical examples of supported employment services see Learning Disability Today, Nov. 2009, p. 32-35)
A. Shah and S.Adelman
Mental Health Today, Nov. 2009, p. 25-29
This paper describes the inequality in access to mental health care faced by older people from black and minority ethnic groups and potential ways forward under the headings scale of the problem, inequality in mental health care, barriers to receiving appropriate care, recognising and tackling suicide risk, policy context, finding a way forward, and beyond psychiatry.
C.H. Sin and others
Learning Disability Today, Nov. 2009, p. 16-19
Research shows that fear and experience of a wide range of criminal, sub-criminal and antisocial behaviour has a marked impact on the social inclusion and the well-being of people with learning disabilities. It also demonstrates that people with learning disabilities have unequal access to safety and unequal access to justice.
Mental Health Today, Nov. 2009, p. 32-33
Suicide rates in London have fallen due in part to the impact of the government's seven-day follow-up target and improvements in access to psychological therapies. However there are concerns that rates could rise again due to increases in unemployment during the economic recession.
Community Living, vol.23, 2009, p. 10-11
This article argues that assistive technology can be liberating for people with learning difficulties living in the community, as it frees them from the constant, intrusive presence of support staff and allows them space and privacy.
Mental Health Today, Nov. 2009, p. 22-23
The current government approach to tackling mental health issues promotes personal budgets and person-centred planning. However there are different views among commissioners of what personalisation means and how to make it happen. They need to listen to the experiences of people who use mental health services and for these experiences to inform commissioning.
Community Living, vol.23, 2009, p. 6-7
This article comments on the government's new strategy for increasing the employment rate among people with learning difficulties. In order for the strategy to succeed, the public sector will need to provide the bulk of the jobs for this group. Government also needs to change the perception that people with learning difficulties are better off on benefits than in paid work.,
V. Williams and others
Learning Disability Today, Nov. 2009, p. 36-39
This study investigated what people with learning disabilities want from their personal assistants in the context of the growth and development of personalised service structures. Results show that effective personal assistants listen to their partners, share interests with them, have an equal relationship with them, provide sensitive advice, and use an adult tone of voice when talking.