Improving Mental Health for Disabled Young People

Aim

To improve the mental wellbeing of disabled children and young people. To help them understand their emotions and build resilience

Children and young people who have learning disabilities have a much greater chance of developing mental health needs, if the appropriate support is not put into place.

Having a disability might also place limits on learning and restrict what children and young people can do and how much they can join in activities. Sometimes, those with disabilities are seen as different by their classmates or peers, and this can increase feelings of isolation and lead to exclusion from groups and friendships.

Children should have access to a comprehensive array of services that address the child’s physical, emotional, social and educational needs in order to promote positive mental health. 

Research by Professors Eric Emerson and Chris Hatton from Lancaster University (2007) and funded and published by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents with Learning Disabilities in Britain found that:

• 33% of children with learning disabilities find it harder than average to make friends
• 25% find it difficult to keep friends
• 14% have no friends
• 47% are living in poverty compared to 30 per cent of all British children
• In 30% of households, neither parent is in employment, compared to 14 per cent of households with children without learning disabilities
• 30% of children with learning disabilities live in a single parent household

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a rise in the mental health needs of disabled children and young people across the country.

It is important that the mental health needs of a disabled child are met and we propose to do this through:

CBT sessions

Anxiety and stress management sessions

Counselling services

This project successfully funded on 16th June 2021