This week, 07 – 13 September, is Scottish Learning Disability Week and a time to celebrate people with learning disabilites.
The theme this year from the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) is “I am here… to be seen”, reminding us that people with learning disabilities deserve to be seen, heard and included in all areas of life.
Dr Amelia Williamson, Psychotherapist, said: “This has been a year of change for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Learning Disabilities team driven forward by the findings from our stakeholder consultations process where we met and talked to children, parents and carers, school and agency staff around the community of children with learning disabilities.
“This consultation process enabled us to really ‘see’ and come alongside the children with Learning Disabilities and their families, and have conversations about what mental health means to to them, and what our service offers.”
Dr Williamson explains that in response to the Learning Disability week theme, there are two messages they’d like to share with the community.
She said: “We see you. The children we support are incredible. They are incredibly loved by parents and carers, so strong in the face of the difficulties and they achieve so much, often against the odds. We see the challenges they face everyday and how important their rights are.
“We are also here to be seen as a service for them. We will endeavour to be more visible and more accessible. We are very grateful for the feedback they have shared with us.”
The CAMHS Learning Disability Team continues to strive to meet the Scottish Government's 18 week referral to treatment/intervention goal, and offers both individual work with the young people, as well as consultation and support for the adults around them, including families and school staff.
If you need advice or support from CAMHS for a young person with a learning disability, please talk to your child’s lead professional or key worker in education, health, or social care.