Recovery and intellectual disabilities: a review

Abstract

Purpose -Given the Increased prevalence of mental health problems amongst people with intellectual disabilities, it seems pertinent to consider how the recovery approach could potentially benefit practice within mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities. This paper seeks to explore the similarities between recovery principles and existing approaches in services for people with intellectual disabilities: it also aims to reflect on the potential barriers to the explicit uptake of the "recovery" approach in this context Oesign/methodology/approach -The presence and implementation of "recovery" approaches within mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities are reviewed. This is achieved through an examination of existing practices that could be described as recovery oriented, along with reflections on how these relate to the recovery approach. Questions are raised regarding whether practices can be regarded as "recovery oriented", without first consulting service users. Findings -Further consideration is needed about the extent to which mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities are recovery oriented and how recovery would be defined amongst people with intellectual disabilities.Research iimitations/impiications -It is suggested that further research using qualitative methodology is conducted, to enable the voice of sen/ice users to be heard.OriginalityA/alue -The paper is one of the first to explore the relevance of the recovery approach to people with intellectual disabilities. Given the increasing emphasis on recovery approaches within mainstream services, it seems vital to give consideration to the potential for its meaningful application to people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems.

Perceptions of learning disability nurses and support staff towards people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia

“…The implementation of person-centred recovery approaches within LD services Person first philosophies, which promote inclusion, choice and independence have been promoted within LD policy drivers for the last decade (DoH 2001(DoH , 2009Scottish Recovery Network 2010;Handley et al 2012).…”

“…Where person-centred recovery approaches have been implemented using a whole systems approach including training, the use of recovery champions and using an established recovery model such as the 'Recovery Star' have had some beneficial effects for the service (Esan et al 2012). As the recovery journey is different for each client group, an understanding of the lived experience of recovery and its meaning for people with combined LD and mental health problems is paramount to the development of supportive recovery-based interventions (Handley et al 2012). This understanding needs to be developed further within LD services.…”

“…Person first philosophies, which promote inclusion, choice and independence have been promoted within LD policy drivers for the last decade (DoH , ; Scottish Recovery Network ; Handley et al . ).…”

“…As the recovery journey is different for each client group, an understanding of the lived experience of recovery and its meaning for people with combined LD and mental health problems is paramount to the development of supportive recovery‐based interventions (Handley et al . ). This understanding needs to be developed further within LD services.…”

“…Experiencing the two together as comorbid conditions is likely to further promote the adoption of pessimistic beliefs about the capacity for recovery and goal achievement (Handley et al . ). The actual presentation of these combined conditions includes more severe positive and negative symptoms, social functioning deficits, interpersonal difficulties and challenging behaviour and may equate in staff members minds to the ‘prognosis of doom’ identified by Andresen et al .…”