Exploration of the dynamic barriers to adults with intellectual disabilities accessing mainstream mental health services
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
ISSN: 2044-1282
Article publication date: 2 November 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of psychologists in considering the barriers to people with intellectual disabilities being able to access mainstream mental health services.
Design/methodology/approach
The information relating to participant experiences was gathered by conducting two focus groups: one with psychologists working in the adult mental health service and the second with psychologists working in the learning disability service. A thematic analysis was used to determine the main themes from each of the focus groups.
Findings
The overarching themes for the psychologists in the adult mental health service related to: service restrictions; confidence in their ability/skills; and resistance to change. The overarching themes for the psychologists in the learning disability service reflected: future thinking; protection; pessimism; and clarification around mental health and learning disability.
Originality/value
The discussion includes consideration of the dynamic positions of the two services and recommendations for an integrated system of working.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement goes to Dr Alisha Bannon, Counselling Psychologist for her involvement in the data analysis and to all the participants in the focus groups for their time and experience.
Citation
McNally, P. and McMurray, K. (2015), "Exploration of the dynamic barriers to adults with intellectual disabilities accessing mainstream mental health services", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 352-362. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-01-2015-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited