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Understanding & Promoting the Mental
Health Needs of Children & Young People
Chris AndersonTalking Life Seminars
Introducing Chris Anderson
• Is an Independent Social Worker & Trainer, who has also Chaired Fostering Panels and also undertakes work with other Fostering Panels.
• Is an experienced Trainer who has worked extensively with Foster Carers, Care Workers and Social Workers as a Trainer, Assessor and Study Supervisor.
• Has worked as a Social Worker & Manager for over twenty years.
Welcome
• Working Together• Confidentiality• Listening Skills• Comfort breaks• Time keeping.• Respect• Skills Sharing• Mobile Phones
The Aims of today’s course
• To explore and promote the mental health needs of children and young people with special needs
• To enable those who work and meet children and young people with special needs to have a better understanding of their needs and care.
A learning disability may mean ...
• a child or young person may have a reduced ability to understand or communicate their views and or needs
• a reduced ability to manage complex information • a limited ability to mange and function socially
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A physical disability means ...
• a child or young person may not be able to express their wishes or needs verbally
• a family member or carers may be required to aid with communication
• the health professional may not understand the abilities of the child or young person
• the child or young person may be embarrassed, or unable to express their needs
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Facts
• There are approximately 250,000 people with what can be labelled as severe learning difficulties and between 500,000 and 1.5 million with mild learning disabilities ( some are not even recognised)
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Facts
• Every week babies are born with complex and special needs
• Over 200 babies are born with learning disabilities every week
• 9 out of 10 people with learning disabilities get bullied
www.mencap.org.uk
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Health
• It is a known fact that people with leaning disabilities have more complex physical and emotional health needs.
• The psychological health needs of children and young people with special needs is often not understood or recognised.
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Health
• Children with disabilities may express their emotional and physiological needs physically rather than verbally
• It is important carers are able to advocate and promote the needs of the children and young people in their care.
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Health
• It is sadly a known fact that people with learning disabilities have a lower life expectancy.
(Radio 4 health programme 2013)
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Health
• People with learning disabilities and special needs are also more likely to have – Undiagnosed mental illness– General health difficulties– Such as – Oral health – Sensory needs – Obesity
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Health
• Children and young people with special needs are less likely to have their emotional health recognised and treated.
• Children and young people may be over prescribed with medication or medicated inappropriately as their needs are not recognised or understood.
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Health
• Adolescents with learning disabilities and or special needs may not be supported to access sexual health care, or be given advice they can understand or access easily
• Failing to understand and address the sexual health needs of adolescents can lead to emotional and mental illness
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Promoting the mental heath needs of children and young
people • Mencap in their report ‘ Treat me right’ 2004 said
the following – More training for health staff– Making hospital and doctor visits easier – Longer appointments & more time– Make information more accessible
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Promoting the mental heath needs of children and young
people• The health professional communicates clearly.• A basic course in sign language may help• BSL or Makaton • Using appropriate language and terms the child
or young person recognises• Listening to the carers and taking their advice
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Mental Illness
• Does not only effect adults• It affects children & teenagers• Mental illness is a real problem for children &
young people as well as adults
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Looking through a Child’s eyes
• Adults may not understand how difficult children's problems can be for them.
• Pressures of school• Growing up• Peer groups • Bullying
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Important messages
• Every child’s mental health is important• Many children have mental health problems• These problems are real• These problems can be severe• Mental health problems can be recognised &
treated• Caring families or carers can help promote and
understand the mental health needs of children and young people