Transition from children and adolescent to adult mental health services for young people with intellectual disabilities: a scoping study of service organisation problems
| Published date | 24 January 2011 |
| Date | 24 January 2011 |
| Pages | 9-16 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/amhid.2011.0011 |
| Author | Axel Kaehne |
9
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Volume 5 Issue 1 January 2011 © Pier Professional Ltd
10.5042/amhid.2011.0011
RESEARCH
Introduction
Research on mental health for people with intellectual
disabilities has focused mainly on the question of whether
mental health services should be generic or specialist
(Chaplin, 2004, 2009; Cumella, 2009). More recently,
research has tried to identify a consensus among
professionals on what mental health services should provide
to people with intellectual disabilities; there have been studies
on the effectiveness of community mental health services
(Hemmings et al, 2009) and the use of inpatient services by
services users (Xenitidis et al, 2004). Mapping the extent to
which community mental health care was available to people
with intellectual disabilities has also received some attention
(Bailey & Cooper, 1997).
On the other hand, social care and education transitions
for people with intellectual disabilities have received an
enormous amount of attention from researchers and policy
makers (DH, 2007; DH & DfCSF, 2008). Valuing People (DH,
2001) and Valuing People Now (HMG, 2009) have identified
transition as an important area for service improvements. In
Wales, education and health are areas devolved to the Welsh
Assembly Government, and the Welsh Department for
Children, Lifelong Learning and Skills has undertaken a review
of transition for young people with additional learning needs
which includes people with intellectual disabilities. Currently
policy in intellectual disabilities in Wales is outlined in the
Statement on Policy and Practice (WAG, 2007).
Overall, however, most of the policy and guidance from
central and national government has focused on transition
from education to post-education placements. Much research
has preferred to concentrate on this as well (Hudson, 2006;
Barron & Hassiotis, 2008; MacIntyre, 2009; Florian et al,
2000; Heslop & Abbott, 2007). Transition of young people
with intellectual disabilities to employment has been another
field of intense research interest (Beyer & Kaehne, 2008).
In contrast, little attention has been paid to the transition of
young people with intellectual disabilities from children and
adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental
health services (AMHS). The complexity of mental health
transition for young people with intellectual disabilities is
highlighted by the fact that potentially three issues intersect in
this area: clinical mental health practice, intellectual disabilities
service provision, and multi-agency co-operation.
Few studies exist on mental health service transition
for young people with intellectual disabilities. Unwin and
colleagues (2008) presented the results of a scoping study
Axel Kaehne
Research Fellow, Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
Abstract
Transitions for young people with intellectual disabilities have received much attention from researchers. Little is known, however, about how
mental health services link with existing transition partnerships and what the potential service gaps are for young people with intellectual
disabilities. Eight mental health professionals in three local authorities in Wales were interviewed to sketch potential research themes in this
area. Our findings revealed a remarkable lack of engagement of mental health professionals with transition partnerships for young people with
intellectual disabilities, and significant service gaps. The insufficient integration of mental health services in transition planning may contribute
to disruptive transitions for young people with intellectual disabilities and their carers. Further research should examine how best to involve
mental health services in transition partnerships for young people.
Key words
intellectual disability; learning disabilities; transition; mental health; service organisation; partnerships
Transition from children and adolescent to
adult mental health services for young people
with intellectual disabilities: a scoping study
of service organisation problems
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