Services for young people with learning disabilities and mental health needs from South Asian communities

Abstract

Children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems from black and minority ethnic communities face barriers in accessing services. This paper describes a mapping of services used by young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. Overall the participants accessed primary health care services through their GPs, had contact with Social Services for support and benefits and the voluntary sector for culturally appropriate services. Most participants did not access statutory child or adult mental health services, or professionals such as psychologists or behaviour nurse specialists. Families reported key barriers such as lack of awareness of services, language difficulties in communication and lack of culturally sensitive services.

The complex role of social care services in supporting the development of sustainable identities: Insights from the experiences of British South Asian women with intellectual disabilities

“…With the exception of two participants, who were no longer living at home, none were dissatisfied with services. This is in contrast with the views of parents from previous research, who have expressed dissatisfaction with services ( Hatton et al, 1998, Hensel et al, 2005and Raghavan & Waseem, 2007.…”

“…The majority of the research in this area has focussed on the views of carers (Hatton et al, 1998;McGrother et al, 2002;Raghavan & Waseem, 2007) who report a high level of awareness of health services such as General Practitioners (GPs'), dentists and opticians, but less awareness of specialist services such as community intellectual disability nurses (Hatton et al, 1998;Raghavan & Waseem, 2007). Generally, carers in these studies are reported to be unsatisfied with services.…”

“…Generally, carers in these studies are reported to be unsatisfied with services. Very few studies which have focused upon minority ethnic groups have done so by collecting data from adults with intellectual disabilities themselves (Azmi et al, 1997;Bonnell et al, 2012;Pestana, 2011;Raghavan & Waseem, 2007). In these studies, participants with intellectual disabilities reported social isolation, limited social networks, lack of leisure and recreational activities, unmet cultural needs and experiences of 'double discrimination' (in relation to disability and ethnicity), racism and stigma (Azmi et al, 1997;Pestana, 2011).…”

“…Mir, Nocon, Ahmad and Jones (2001) suggested that South Asian women experience 'triple jeopardy' with regards to their ethnicity, disability and gender, and so their needs differ from the needs of South Asian males or from white women with intellectual disabilities. In one study, parents of Muslim daughters with intellectual disabilities preferred female staff to care for their daughters, and parents tended not to allow their daughters to attend recreational activities where alcohol might be served (Raghavan & Pawson, 2009). In another study, O'Hara and Martin (2003) found that Bangladeshi women were more likely to be married and living with an extended family than white women with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom.…”

Examining the family-centred approach to genetic testing and counselling among UK Pakistanis: a community perspective

“…This contradicts a prevailing belief that people of Pakistani origin hide disability (Raghavan and Waseem 2007). It also underlines not only the familial need for genetic information but also the need in consanguineous communities for interventions at the community level to promote greater understanding of genetics.…”