Supporting the mental health of children and young people with learning disabilities during COVID-19

Abstract

Why you should read this article:• To be aware of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental and physical health of children and young people with learning disabilities• To learn about how one CAMHS learning disabilities team supported the mental health of children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic• To recognise that innovative and flexible services are required to meet the complex needs of children and young people with learning disabilitiesThis article explores the authors' experiences of supporting the mental health of children and young people with learning disabilities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The article discusses the prevalence of and risk factors for the development of mental health issues in this group. It also describes some service improvement projects developed by a child and adolescent mental health service learning disabilities team to support the mental health needs of children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article includes a case study to illustrate how a flexible and person-centred approach can support the mental health of this population.