Understanding & Promoting the Mental

Health Needs of Children & Young People

Chris AndersonTalking Life Seminars

Introducing Chris Anderson

• Is an Independent Social Worker & Trainer, who has also Chaired Fostering Panels and also undertakes work with other Fostering Panels.

• Is an experienced Trainer who has worked extensively with Foster Carers, Care Workers and Social Workers as a Trainer, Assessor and Study Supervisor.

• Has worked as a Social Worker & Manager for over twenty years.

Welcome

• Working Together• Confidentiality• Listening Skills• Comfort breaks• Time keeping.• Respect• Skills Sharing• Mobile Phones

The Aims of today’s course

• To explore and promote the mental health needs of children and young people with special needs

• To enable those who work and meet children and young people with special needs to have a better understanding of their needs and care.

A learning disability may mean ...

• a child or young person may have a reduced ability to understand or communicate their views and or needs

• a reduced ability to manage complex information • a limited ability to mange and function socially

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A physical disability means ...

• a child or young person may not be able to express their wishes or needs verbally

• a family member or carers may be required to aid with communication

• the health professional may not understand the abilities of the child or young person

• the child or young person may be embarrassed, or unable to express their needs

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Facts

• There are approximately 250,000 people with what can be labelled as severe learning difficulties and between 500,000 and 1.5 million with mild learning disabilities ( some are not even recognised)

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Facts

• Every week babies are born with complex and special needs

• Over 200 babies are born with learning disabilities every week

• 9 out of 10 people with learning disabilities get bullied

www.mencap.org.uk

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Health

• It is a known fact that people with leaning disabilities have more complex physical and emotional health needs.

• The psychological health needs of children and young people with special needs is often not understood or recognised.

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Health

• Children with disabilities may express their emotional and physiological needs physically rather than verbally

• It is important carers are able to advocate and promote the needs of the children and young people in their care.

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Health

• It is sadly a known fact that people with learning disabilities have a lower life expectancy.

(Radio 4 health programme 2013)

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Health

• People with learning disabilities and special needs are also more likely to have – Undiagnosed mental illness– General health difficulties– Such as – Oral health – Sensory needs – Obesity

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Health

• Children and young people with special needs are less likely to have their emotional health recognised and treated.

• Children and young people may be over prescribed with medication or medicated inappropriately as their needs are not recognised or understood.

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Health

• Adolescents with learning disabilities and or special needs may not be supported to access sexual health care, or be given advice they can understand or access easily

• Failing to understand and address the sexual health needs of adolescents can lead to emotional and mental illness

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Promoting the mental heath needs of children and young

people • Mencap in their report ‘ Treat me right’ 2004 said

the following – More training for health staff– Making hospital and doctor visits easier – Longer appointments & more time– Make information more accessible

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Promoting the mental heath needs of children and young

people• The health professional communicates clearly.• A basic course in sign language may help• BSL or Makaton • Using appropriate language and terms the child

or young person recognises• Listening to the carers and taking their advice

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Mental Illness

• Does not only effect adults• It affects children & teenagers• Mental illness is a real problem for children &

young people as well as adults

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Looking through a Child’s eyes

• Adults may not understand how difficult children's problems can be for them.

• Pressures of school• Growing up• Peer groups • Bullying

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Important messages

• Every child’s mental health is important• Many children have mental health problems• These problems are real• These problems can be severe• Mental health problems can be recognised &

treated• Caring families or carers can help promote and

understand the mental health needs of children and young people