The case for guided self-help for people with intellectual disabilities

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-10-2016-0030
Date02 May 2017
Published date02 May 2017
Pages126-130
AuthorEddie Chaplin,Karina Marshall-Tate
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities
The case for guided self-help for people
with intellectual disabilities
Eddie Chaplin and Karina Marshall-Tate
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine guided self-help (GSH), and some of the barriers as to
why it is not routinely available for people with intellectual disabilities (IDs).
Design/methodology/approach This paper offers an overview of GSH and the potential benefits of it as
an intervention for people with ID with mild depression and/or anxiety.
Findings The current literature reports the successful use and effectiveness of GSH in the general
population. However, despite this there is little evidence that it is being used in practice for people with ID.
Originality/value This paper offers an overview of GSH and advocates for its increasing use for people
with ID to help bring about equality in mental healthcare.
Keywords Mental health, Intellectual disability, Depression, Anxiety, Guided self-help, Psychological treatments
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
It is accepted that people with intellectual disability (ID) have higher rates of mental illness.
Indeed it is estimated that between 20.1 and 22.41 per cent of adults will experience mental
illness (excludi ng challenging behaviour) ( Cooper et al., 2007). This compares to an estimate of
16 per cent in the general population (Department of Health, 2003). This paper looks at guided
self-help (GSH) and e xamines why it is not bei ng made routinely av ailable for people wi th ID,
in spite of evidence of its efficacy in the general population. GSH is fast becoming an important
intervention for t he management of common mental heal th problems such as depression and
anxiety (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2010). However, there is little
evidence to suggest that GSH is available to or being developed for people with ID with mild
depression and anxiety. These conditions can be missed in, both people with ID and in the
general populatio n, where it is estimated that a th ird of people with depression a nd half of those
with anxiety are undiagnosed and therefore not treated. This has a financial and human cost
with milder forms of depression and anxiety being associated with increased risk of mortality
(Russ et al., 2012).
National policy such as the Green Light Tool Kit (National Development Team for Inclusion, 2013)
has attempted to improve mental healthcare for people with ID and drive the mainstream agenda
of equitable access to mental healthcare. For many there is still difficulty accessing mental health
services and those who do are less likely to receive psychological treatments (Michaels, 2008).
Paradoxically, the availability of psychological interventions for people with ID with a range of less
intrusive person-centred treatment options being available. Indeed only a decade ago ID was an
exclusion criterion in studies evaluating psychological treatments. Mason (2007) puts forward
five factors that are believed to influence psychological therapy outcomes:
1. the perceived effectiveness of clinicians;
2. individual clinician competence;
3. how well the service is resourced in terms of the number of clinicians;
Received 20 October 2016
Revised 11 April 2017
Accepted 11 April 2017
Eddie Chaplin is an Associate
Professor at the Department of
Mental Health and Learning
Disabilities, London South
Bank University, London, UK.
Karina Marshall-Tate is the
Head of Education and Training
at Estia Centre, South London
and Maudsley NHS Foundation
Trust, London, UK.
PAGE126
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 11 NO. 3 2017, pp.126-130, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-10-2016-0030

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