Waiting for psychological therapy during the covid-19 pandemic: experiences of adults with an intellectual disability
| Date | 14 June 2023 |
| Pages | 148-160 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-08-2022-0028 |
| Published date | 14 June 2023 |
| Author | Rebecca Baxter,Gregg H. Rawlings,Luke Yates,Nigel Beail |
Waiting for psychological therapy during
the covid-19 pandemic: experiences of
adults with an intellectual disability
Rebecca Baxter, Gregg H. Rawlings, Luke Yates and Nigel Beail
Abstract
Purpose –Measures introduced to mitigate the spread of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) may have
contributed to an increase in waiting times for face-to-face psychological treatments. As adults with
intellectual disabilities (ID)are more likely to encounter barriers when accessing remote therapies, it is
important they receive appropriate support while waiting. To understand what care is needed, this
service evaluation [aimed to] explored the experiences of service users with ID who have waited for
treatmentduring the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach –Seven individuals who had been waiting for psychological therapy
during the COVID-19 pandemic,which included those waitinglonger than the national health service
target of 18weeks, were interviewed. Data were analysedusing framework analysis.
Findings –The following four key themes were identified: waiting has been ‘‘painful’’, related to how
service users continued to experiencedifficulties whilst they waited; tolerating the wait, highlightedthat
individuals understood the reasons for waiting; use of coping strategies where service users identified
both internal and external strategies they had used to cope; and support and contactfrom the learning
disabilityteam, related to how individuals experiencedthe support they received from the service.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’knowledge, this service evaluationis the first to explore the
experiences of service users with ID waiting for psychological therapy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Resultsguide suggestions on improving support whilstthey are waiting to help prevent further decline.
Keywords Psychological therapy, Intellectual disability, Waiting lists, Covid-19, Service evaluation,
Mental health
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Since March 2020, varying restrictions have been in place in the United Kingdom (UK) –
and around the world –to help manage the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (UK
Health Security Agency, 2020;UK Health Security Agency, 2021). Such measures have led
to mental health services modifying how treatments are delivered, such as reducing
capacity to deliver face-to-face psychological therapies (NHS England and NHS
Improvement, 2020). Indeed, remote delivery of interventions have been promoted, which
have allowed treatments to continueto be delivered to some degree (British Psychological
Society, 2021). However, it has beenrecognised that engaging in remote therapies may be
more challenging for those with intellectual disabilities (ID) (Rawlings et al.,2020). This has
unfortunately and inadvertently resulted in reduced access to support (The Scottish
Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, 2020;Lunsky et al.,2022) and lengthier
waiting times for treatment in ID services(Purrington and Beail, 2021).
Research in the general adult population indicates that COVID-19 andthe associated
restrictions have posed numerous challenges for those with mental health difficulties,
(Informationabout the
authorscan be found at the
end of this article.)
Received 21 August 2022
Revised 24 January 2023
Accepted 1 March 2023
The authors would like to thank
the individuals who participated
in this service evaluation and
allowing us to learn from their
experiences.
Data availability statement:
Data is available upon
reasonable request.
Funding statement: This service
evaluation received no specific
grant from any funding agency
in the public, commercial or
non-for -profit sectors.
Conflict of interest disclosure:
The authors report no conflict of
interest.
Ethics approval statement:
Ethical approval was not
required for this evaluation.
Patient consent statement:
Service users provided consent
for the purpose of this
evaluation.
PAGE 148 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH ANDINTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES jVOL. 17NO. 3 2023, pp. 148-160,©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282DOI 10.1108/AMHID-08-2022-0028
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