Mencap needs your help! Tell us about your loved one's experiences of loneliness through the pandemic.

[Maurice_Mencap]

Hi everyone,

One of Mencap's priorities is to campaign for better mental health and social care support for people with a learning disability.

If you are a family member or carer of a person with a learning disability, could you share your loved one’s experiences of mental health and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and help us highlight what needs to change?

People with a learning disability are too often forgotten – about two thirds of people don’t even know what a learning disability is.

Sharing your experience will help us campaign for change for more social care funding and highlight the need for better mental health support for people with a learning disability.

Your answers will be anonymous but they will help us to show what needs to change.

To help us, visit: bit.ly/Mental-Health-Covid-...

Thank you!

[Tracidu]

I have completed this survey , hope it helps . My Son has very low capacity or understanding so some of the questions did not apply .

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Tracidu]

Thank you Tracidu, every response helps. 🙂

[49Twister]

I have also completed survey, they were definitely forgotten during this pandemic as they are in most situations, and their mental health and well-being have definitely suffered.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to 49Twister]

Thank you for replying, 49Twister. Every answer we receive helps us more.

[Mybestfriends]

My 30yr old Son had an Awful time, kept getting different people call him, no one but myself to visit, he lost trust in who these people were & what organisation, it was too much, he was coming off a Medication (Sertraline Gp had tried him on), because it was not suitable & gave him Suicidal thoughts, Sadly he went into Psychosis later on & nearly hung himself, had punched holes in his Flat, punched himself, bashed his Head, harassed his next door neighbour. He wanted/needed people, neighbours to understand he has Learning Disabilities & Difficulties & was in despair, he needed to play music & sing. Police & Antisocial were called out. I took him home with me & he ended up in Crisis, Mental Health Team had to come out, assessment was made & he was taken in under Section 2 & then 3 just before Discharge with a Depot injection which he was sensitive to, a large lump appeared & later a Kidney infection, as the site of the Depot injection was given too high up, he had to come off of that Medication. He was outside with his Puppy listening to Spotify & news came on in his Headset that 10,000 people had died, Horrified & Scared him. Now 32yrs old & needs Meds adjusting/changed, & still living with myself, husband & adult brother, in Dining room end of Living room, awaiting & Bidding on properties on Homechoice. Add, Dd, D, Schizophrenia, ASD, Anxiety, some Depression. I am Mum, appointment Carer with Power of Attorney. I have Anxiety & left work by choice to Support our Son.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Mybestfriends]

Hello Mybestfriends, so sorry to hear this, what an awful time your son has had. If you feel you need any support or advice, please get in touch with our Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111 or email [e-mail].

[Mybestfriends]

thank you will do, my Son won't call Connections, is there a Learning Disabilities number for him to chat when he needs ? NAS one is out of commission.