Looking after your mental health
we teamed up with our Healthwatch colleagues in Bexley and Greenwich to be part of the first ever joint Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham Learning Disability Big Health Day. Read our report to find out what people think of mental health services.
The event gave people with learning disabilities the chance to learn more about cancer and get involved in workshops, mini-health checks and dance classes.
During the Big Health Day, we spoke to over 50 people about their understanding of mental health and experiences of local services.
Recommendations:
- Health and care services should support people with learning disabilities to make healthy life choices
- Encourage local mental health services in all boroughs to organise events / develop easy read materials that raise awareness about mental health for people with learning disabilities
- Further research projects looking to explore the experiences of people with learning disabilities and their mental health
- Health and care services should raise awareness of leisure and volunteering opportunities available to people with learning disabilities
- Healthcare professionals should be trained in communicating effectively with people with learning disabilities, making sure they understand the issues that affect them, and involving them and their families in any decisions made around their health.
- Ensuring continuity of care for people with learning disabilities, seeing the same health professional can create a more relaxing environment for patients
- Health and care services should make reasonable adjustments to ensure the needs of people with learning disabilities are met
- Work with local advice organisations to offer information and advice hubs for people with learning disabilities which discusses issues relating to housing, money, life changes etc
Downloads
If you require this report in an alternative format, please get in touch to discuss your request.
File download
Big Health Day report
