Support workers’ mental health knowledge and confidence in relation to exposure, experience, work setting and training
| Date | 02 July 2014 |
| Pages | 248-259 |
| Published date | 02 July 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-02-2013-0012 |
| Author | Ann Kilanska,Helena M. Priest |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Accounting education |
Support workers’ mental health knowledge
and confidence in relation to exposure,
experience, work setting and training
Ann Kilanska and Helena M. Priest
Ann Kilanska is a Trainee
Clinical Psychologist and
Dr Helena M. Priest is a
Research Director, both are
based at Staffordshire & Keele
Universities Doctorate in
Clinical Psychology,
Staffordshire University,
Stoke on Trent, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Previous studies have shown that support workers often have difficulties in recognising
mental health problems in service users with intellectual disabilities. In the context of improved UK training
programmes, the purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that can predict support workers’
knowledge and confidence in this respect.
Design/methodology/approach – In total, 80 support workers (40 residential and 40 community-based)
completed a questionnaire about their length of work experience, exposure to service users with additional
mental health needs, training, general and specific mental health knowledge, and confidence in working
with mental health issues. It was hypothesised that length of work experience, extent of training, and level of
exposure would predict knowledge about mental health problems, and also predict confidence in working
with people with mental health problems. It was further predicted that residential support workers would be
more knowledgeable and confident than community workers.
Findings – Results showed that level of exposure could predict knowledge about schizophrenia, but not
about depression, anxiety, or dementia, while length of experience could predict overall mental health
knowledge and confidence. Extent of training could only predict knowledge about anxiety, and work setting
(residential or community) had no effect to on knowledge or confidence. Implications for practice and
training are discussed.
Originality/value – In the context of improved UK training programmes, this study aimed to explore the
factors that can predict support workers’ knowledge and confidence in this respect.
Keywords Mental health, Knowledge, Intellectual disability, Confidence, Support worker
Paper type Research paper
It is estimated that around 2 per cent of the UK population has some form of intellectual disability
(Emerson and Hatton, 2008), and it is widely acknowledged that between 20 and 40 per cent of
this population experience additional mental health problems including anxiety, mood
disorders, personality disorders, dementia, and schizophrenia (Cooper et al., 2007; Deb et al.,
2001; Department of Health, 2003; Dosen and Day,2001; Emerson et al. , 2001; Raghavan and
Patel, 2005; Taylor et al., 2004). Vulnerability factors such as low self-esteem, lack of social
assistance, inadequate coping skills, and abuse may compound the prevalence (Priest and
Gibbs, 2004; Tsakanikos et al., 2007). Holt and Eyeoyibo (2007) identified five additional
predisposing factors: sensory impairments, brain damage, physical illness, poor environments
and genetic factors. For example, the association between Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s
disease is well established.
Despite high prevalence rates, mental health was not a high priority in UK care packages for
people with intellectual disabilities until the mid 1980s (Moss and Lee, 2001; Priest and Gibbs,
2004). Awareness was enhanced by the introduction of the United Kingdom Parliament Acts
(1990), which heralded a move from institutional care to a range of locally based housing
PAGE 248
j
ADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 8 NO. 4 2014, pp. 248-259, CEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-02-2013-0012
To continue reading
Request your trial