Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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New legislative proposals for women with learning disabilities and mental health problems
- Authors:
- McNAMARA Eileen, HALL Ian
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.36-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Several proposed changes to the law in England and Wales will particularly affect women with learning disabilities. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the draft Mental Health and Mental Incapacity Bills all highlight the tension between state paternalism and individual autonomy. Uses a fictional case scenario to consider the practical implications of the proposed legislation, and dilemmas that may arise.
Women with and without intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders: an examination of the literature
- Authors:
- TAGGART L., MCMILLAN R., LAWSON A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 12(3), September 2008, pp.191-211.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article examines the literature on women with and without intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders, using a gender social model of health. Relevant empirical studies, international literature reviews and policies between 1980 and 2007 were identified from electronic databases, journals and secondary sources. Three areas were examined: psychiatric disorders, their contextual background, and their clinical presentation. There are minimal levels of research into women with intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders. However, this article hypothesizes that women with intellectual disability have higher rates of psychiatric disorders than women without. This may result from greater vulnerability related both to internal factors (`intra': cognitive deficits, poorer communication skills, limited social skills) and to the external world (`inter': lack of opportunities, stigma, poor social support networks). The article argues that such women require gender-sensitive mental health services. However, more empirical evidence is required to support this claim and to inform development and delivery of services.
Human rights and the failure of policy to deliver: women with learning disabilities and mental health needs
- Author:
- LAWSON Annette
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.4-11.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Human rights figure largely in both rhetoric and practice, and Government policy seeks to value and enhance individual equality and quality of life. Draws on recent work to illustrate gaps in the achievement of these ideals. The proposed new single body, a Commission on Equality and Human Rights, may offer an improved framework for implementation of policy goals and more fulfilled lives.
Women with intellectual disability in secure settings and their mental health needs
- Author:
- BEBER Elizabeth
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(3), 2012, pp.151-158.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Despite the lack of empirical evidence to support their development, services for intellectually disabled women offenders have grown up in the UK within both the NHS and the independent sector. This article describes this development and outlines what is known about their mental health needs. It draws on what is known historically about the subject, findings from the current literature and the author's own personal knowledge of these specialist services. It appears that services for women with intellectual disability have largely developed out of mainstream forensic and learning disability services, either male or mixed gender services. Although there is some literature on offending in the intellectually disabled population as a whole, little of this is specific to women. Despite this, the evidence there is suggests that women continue to require secure services and that they have significant mental health needs. The clinical characteristics of women who populate these services include having a milder degree of intellectual disability, high levels of violent offending, high rates of deliberate self harm and a high likelihood of a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder. The author suggests that there is a need to improve secure services for women in mainstream psychiatry, although further work is required around outcome measures for this group.
Staffs' knowledge and perceptions of working with women with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems
- Authors:
- TAGGART L., MCMILLAN R., LAWSON A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(1), January 2010, pp.90-100.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is evidence suggesting that women are more likely than men to develop mental health problems; likewise there is literature indicating that people with intellectual disabilities are also more prone to developing mental ill health then the non-disabled population. The aim of this study was to explore a range of health and social care staffs' knowledge and perceptions of caring for women with ID who have mental health problems, focusing upon risk and resilient/protective factors and barriers to accessing care. The qualitative methodology used eight focus groups involving a total of 32 frontline hospital, community and residential staff across one region of the UK. Transcripts were subjected to thematic content analysis using Newell & Burnard's framework. Six inter-related risk factors were identified as potential causes for women with ID developing mental illness: having an ID and being female; unmet expectations; dysfunctional family upbringing; unstable relationships/loss of children; domestic violence; and negative life experiences. Hormonal issues were rarely acknowledged. Resilient/protective factors included being proactive, greater community participation, early recognition, and mental health maintenance. The authors discuss their results in light of current developments and policy within mainstream psychiatric gender approaches. They recommend greater recognition of a proactive health approach for both staff and women with an ID.
Why should I care about gender?
- Author:
- O'HARA Jean
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 2(2), June 2008, pp.9-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article looks at the published literature on gender as it affects individual vulnerability and risk, and planning, organisation and delivery of health care, with specific focus on the mental health and learning disabilities, and discusses them in the context of recent government policy and guidance. It calls for urgent gender-specific research to understand the key issues facing men and women with learning disabilities, and a rights-based approach to access to education, health care and a competent and informed workforce.
Women with learning disabilities who offend: what do we know?
- Author:
- HAYES Susan Carol
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35(3), September 2007, pp.187-191.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper aims to summarise what is known about women with a learning disability who offend and indicate some directions for future research.
Mental health needs of women with learning disabilities: services can be organised to meet the challenge
- Author:
- KOHEN Dora
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.12-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Women with learning disabilities have many social, personal and psychological problems stemming from neglect, as well as being doubly disadvantaged by gender and learning disability. Most such psychosocial problems are not addressed as they arise, leading to psychiatric diagnosis and medicalisation of non-medical issues. It is important to recognise parenting in women with learning disabilities, as well as concerns such as sexual and emotional abuse and violence, and address them by appropriate agencies. Research suggests trained mental health staff with good understanding of gender as well as of disabilities would be able to address needs before they turn into crises. International and national surveys give good understanding of where needs lie and how services could be structured most effectively. Recognition of problems, a robust gender-sensitive approach and management skills at community level seem most important in dealing with women with learning disabilities. Most need local, generic, gender-sensitive non-stigmatising services. Only a very small minority of women with behavioural problems will need the highly specialised psychiatric learning disabilities team.
Understanding our bodies, understanding ourselves: the menstrual cycle, mental health and women with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- DITCHFIELD Hedy, BURNS Jan
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.24-32.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Reviews the evidence for vulnerability in women with learning disabilities to a range of physical and mental health problems, with special emphasis on menstruation. Describes a qualitative research project on the experience of learning-disabled women in relation to menstruation, concluding by emphasising the need for services to communicate information on this subject in more sensitive and appropriate ways.
Mental health needs of women with learning disabilities: services can be organised to meet the challenge
- Author:
- O'HARA Jean
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.20-23.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Department of Health recognises there are differences in the family and social context of women's and men's lives with consequences for how mental ill-health presents and is treated. Discusses what it means to be a woman with learning disabilities and mental health needs. asking if she will be able to access services sensitive to her situation, life experiences, aspirations and uniqueness as a woman and if systems in place to plan, deliver and monitor services take account of her and her individual needs.