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Care Staff Awareness Training on Mental Health Needs of Adults with Learning Disabilities

Results from a Greek sample

S. Diareme

Department of Child Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece

C. Dimitrakaki

Association for the Psychological Health of Children and Adolescents (APHCA), Athens, Greece

G. Kolaitis

A. Flios

S. Christogiorgos

Department of Child Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece

G. Weber

Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria

L. Salvador-Carulla

Centro de Investigación de Minusvalias (CIM–RIRAG) Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain

J. Hillery

Centre for the Study of Developmental Disabilities, University College, Dublin, Ireland

H. Costello

Estia Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Tust and King’s College, London, UK

The mental health needs of adults with learning disabilities have not been adequately addressed in many European countries. Although carers can play a significant role in identification and referral, they usually lack the expertise necessary to identify signs of mental disorders. This study evaluated a care staff training programme aiming at improving awareness on issues of dual diagnosis in a group of 36 care staff from residential and community centres in Greece. Training was based on the British Mental Health in Learning Disabilities Training Pack and the PAS–ADD Checklist. The overwhelming majority of staff were very satisfied with training. Staff from institutional work settings, with no previous training on dual diagnosis and with a lower level of education, benefited to a significant degree. Changes occurred mostly in their knowledge and attitudes rather than practice. Supervised practical training is vital to transfer, strengthen and maintain positive changes at work.

Key Words: adults with learning disabilities • care staff training • dual diagnosis • Greece • mental health • PAS–ADD

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 8, No. 3, 221-234 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1469004704044961


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