The aim of this course is to raise awareness of staff who support, or may support people with a learning disability who experience mental health issues. The course will raise an awareness of mental illness, its effects on people with a learning disability and provides a basic introduction to assessment and interventions.

This course specifically relates to NICE guidelines on Mental Health problems in people with learning disabilities.

By the end of this course learners will:

• explore what we mean by ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’
• recognise signs and symptoms of main mental health diagnosis.
• explore autism, dementia and mental health
• understand that people with a learning disability are at increased risk of mental health problems
• understand that mental health problems may develop and present in different ways from people without learning disabilities, and the usual signs or symptoms may not be observable or reported
• understand that people with a learning disability can develop mental health problems for the same reasons as people without learning disabilities
• explore the reasons why mental health problems are commonly overlooked in people with learning disabilities
• have an introduction to assessment and interventions.