Policy implementation in England: developments to meet the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities

Abstract

In the last decade we have witnessed much debate and activity around the provision of mental health services for people with learning disabilities in England. This article looks not only at current initiatives to improve mental health care from around England, but also places them within a policy context. Unfortunately there are areas that still fail to provide a basic care standard, some of which has been reported throughout the media from recent investigations. Where this is the case, we outline the responses and actions that have been put in place to address these issues.To maintain a momentum for positive change for the mental health care of people with learning disabilities, there now needs to be cooperation between services that traditionally have not worked together for the benefit of this client group. Before an equality of mental health service provision, in line with national standards, can be realised the traditional views and values of service providers and commissioners will need to be challenged and tuned to the needs of this group of people.

Citation

Chaplin, E. and O'Hara, J. (2007), "Policy implementation in England: developments to meet the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities", Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 7-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/17530180200700003