Description
Why are people with intellectual disability failed by health services?
Up to 2% of the population has an intellectual impairment. They are up to seven times more likely to have a mental health condition and commonly have complex physical illness. Despite this they remain a chronically underserved group and experience major health inequalities. People with intellectual disability encounter barriers in accessing healthcare; they die younger and a greater number of deaths could have been avoided than the rest of the population. Recognising and diagnosing ill-health in this group is a challenge for health professionals, and healthcare decisions are too often influenced by stigma and discrimination. Furthermore, NICE has highlighted the lack of adapted and tested treatments for this group.
Join the public discussion
In Mental Health Question Time on Wednesday 13th June we bring together a diverse panel of researchers and experts by experience to discuss how to build a forward-looking health service that meets the needs of people with intellectual impairment across the lifespan.
- What can be done to give people with intellectual disabilities better access to the services and treatments that other people receive?
- How can we use evidence and co-production to deliver more effective health services?
- What wider initiatives are needed to promote health and wellbeing?
- How can legislation and policy be used to support the health of people with intellectual disability?
Chaired by:
- Prof Angela Hassiotis (Chair), Professor in Intellectual Disability in the UCL Division of Psychiatry