Autism and learning disabilities
Autism and/or a learning disability are not mental health conditions, however the strategies sit within the Minister for Mental Health’s portfolio. Around 32.7% of people with a learning disability also have a diagnosis of autism.
Good health is vital to all of us, as is access to good quality care. However people with learning disabilities can experience substantial health inequalities. Over 95% have at least one additional health problem, and multiple co-occurring physical and mental health problems are typical.
We recognise and value the 0.5% of the population who live with a learning disability in Scotland and contribute to our communities and to our country.
We have been working on sustaining and introducing additional ways to help autistic people and people with a learning/intellectual disability as part of our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Read more in our learning/intellectual disability and autism: towards transformation plan (March 2021).
We published our learning disability strategy - The Keys to Life in March 2019. This includes our implementation framework and priorities from 2019 to 2021.
Estimates suggest that 1.035% of people in Scotland are autistic. We published the Scottish Strategy for Autism in March 2018. This sets out our priorities and actions for 2018 to 2021.
We are working to build a better understanding of the factors that contribute to poor health and health care in this population. This will help us continue to improve and inform actions. We do this through the support of our data specialists - the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory
The Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities assist us with the delivery of the policy priorities including the secretariat for the Keys to Life Leadership Group.
An independent review of learning disability and autism in the Mental Health Act in Scotland reported to Ministers on 18 December 2019. Read the final report and recommendations.
National autism post diagnostic support pilot
We piloted a scheme to deliver a post diagnostic support service. Read the pilot evaluation publication (March 2022) to find out more.
National campaign
We launched our first national campaign on autism in October 2020 in response to our consultation on the Scottish strategy for Autism, which highlighted the stigma and discrimination that autistic people face. Visit the Different minds. One Scotland. campaign website to find out more and get involved.
Annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities
Annual health checks were launched in May 2022. Scottish Ministers committed £2 million annually to NHS Boards to implement annual health checks for people with learning disabilities across Scotland. This is a big step towards our ambition to ensure that people with learning disabilities live longer and healthier lives.
Evidence shows that annual health checks are clinically effective in detecting unmet clinical conditions,and in improving the management of long-term conditions. This will deliver a preventative pathway towards better health.
People with learning have some of the poorest health of any group in Scotland and die on average twenty years earlier than the rest of the population. In 2021 evidence was published by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory that adults with learning disabilities are twice as likely to die from preventable illnesses.
Eligibility
We issued National Directions in 2023 requiring NHS Boards to deliver annual health checks to people with learning disabilities.
Annual health checks are available for people aged 16 years and over with a learning disability and must be undertaken by a registered nurse or registered medical practitioner.
If you are eligible to receive an annual health check, you should contact your local NHS health board.
National Implementation Group
To support NHS Boards on the roll out of annual health checks, a National Implementation Group has been set up which meets monthly.
The group:
- supports the Scottish Government to monitor and review implementation with real time delivery data sharing
- offers a space for boards to discuss good practice
- works collaboratively around challenges and barriers to delivery and offer peer support
Data
A requirement of the National Directions is for NHS Boards to report to Scottish Government on an annual basis with data on implementation and delivery of health checks. This information is provided in a national survey issued by Scottish Government. The figures presented show the number of eligible people identified for an annual health check, along with the number of health check offered and completed.
Resources
To support the health check roll out, we have commissioned a programme of work with NHS NES to develop educational resources to support practitioners to carry out the annual health checks. NES have developed a podcast series on a variety of topics related to health and health care inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, including on annual health checks.We worked with the Scottish Commission for people with Learning Disabilities (SLCD) to produce an animation for people with learning disabilities on what an annual health check is and why they should attend. Find out more about the annual health check process by watching this video.
Down’s Syndrome Scotland have created resources for people with lived experience to support their knowledge and understanding of annual health checks.
We collaborated alongside The Assembly and with people with learning disabilities to co-create a package of lived experience resources. The resources are for professionals throughout health and social care. They are designed to support access to mental health and health supports and services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.