Strain on mental health services expected to grow

ALMOST 300 people with an intellectual disability are living full-time in mental health services which are highly inappropriate for their needs.

The 2010 annual report of the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) committee found 238 individuals people with an intellectual disability were living in psychiatric hospitals during 2010, while a further 55 live in mental health community residences.

This practice has long been criticised as unsuitable, and it is 25 years since the then government said the policy would be reversed.