One size does not fit all: mental health services access for people with intellectual/learning disability requires individualised planning and education/training programmes for health and social care providers

Correspondence to Anita Maestri-Banks, School of Nursing and Allied Health, Liverpool John Moores University - City Campus, Liverpool L3 2ET, UK; [email protected]

Commentary on: Whittle E, Fisher K, Reppermund S, et al. Access to mental health services: the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2018;32;1–12.

Implication for practice and research

The most relevant themes identified and to enable a more effective access to health provision in practice are

• The need for effective collaboration between the service user, carers/advocates, service providers and interagencies.

• The understanding that ‘one size does not fit all’ and service provision needs to be adapted for the needs of the individual.

• The need for further education to support health and social care providers in understanding the complexities of an individual’s needs with a dual diagnosis of learning/intellectual disability and mental health and to be able to identify and deliver interagency provision lead by individual needs.

• Further research in this area focusing on qualitative methodology to review and explore sensitive areas of care provision is needed.

Context

Research describes individuals with a learning/intellectual disability as more prone to a range of additional physical and mental health problems than the general population.¹ This vulnerable group often has negative experiences...