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ERIC Number: EJ836542
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1741-1122
EISSN: N/A
Impact of Mental Health Training for Frontline Staff Working with Children with Severe Intellectual Disabilities
Whitehurst, Teresa
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, v5 n1 p6-11 Mar 2008
The risk factors for young people with intellectual disabilities developing a mental health disorder are higher than those found in the general population, yet training is very rarely available to frontline staff. A recent study in the United Kingdom cited prevalence rates of mental ill health among adults with intellectual disabilities ranging from 35.2 to 40.9%, depending upon the sensitivity of the diagnostic tool used (Cooper et al., 2007). The ability to identify mental health problems is crucial to early intervention, but is particularly difficult when the symptoms of intellectual disability often mask emerging problems and confound differential diagnosis. The literature relating to mental health training focuses largely on changes in knowledge base and attitude, falling short of considering the primary focus of training--its impact upon practice and how this ultimately benefits people with intellectual disabilities. This study highlights the need for training, considers a training package provided to all frontline (direct care) staff in a residential school in the United Kingdom, catering to young people between the ages of 6 and 19 with severe intellectual disabilities, and investigates the impact of training upon practice and its influence upon the organization.
Blackwell Publishing. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8599; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: customerservices@blackwellpublishing.com; Web site: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jnl_default.asp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A