Supporting people with learning disabilities who self‐injure

Abstract

This article reports on support that people with learning disabilities who self‐injure say they have found, or would find, helpful in relation to their self‐injury. It is an important issue, because most interventions and approaches are based on past patterns of support or what professionals think is helpful or appropriate. Rarely has the voice of the person concerned been heard. The clear message from people with learning disabilities, including those who use little or no verbal communication, is that they want opportunities to communicate their feelings and to be listened to. Being open to listening and developing one's own communication skills is essential for supporters of people with learning disabilities who self‐injure.

Citation

Heslop, P. (2011), "Supporting people with learning disabilities who self‐injure", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 5-15. https://doi.org/10.5042/tldr.2011.0002