Understanding the current provisions of support for people with an intellectual disabilities and/or autism in crisis: A mixed methods study

Samuel Tromans, Ian Summers, Shahbaz Abdullah, Joanne Ledger, Sarah Lennard, Paul Bassett, Remie Colledge, Danielle Bilkey, Chloe Staples, Samuel Edwards, Grahame Carr, Richard Laugharne and Rohit Shankar

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2025, vol. 71, issue 4, 782-793

Abstract: Background: There has been significant reduction in inpatient beds for people with intellectual disability and/or autism (PwID/A) in the UK in the last decade following high profile national scandals in specialist psychiatric hospitals. To reduce inappropriate admissions a new strategy (Blue-Light, an emergency multi-disciplinary meeting to prevent admission to hospital) was introduced. However, there is no research on the influence of Blue-Light on crisis management for PwID/A. Aim: To assess Blue-Light’s impact on PwID/A’s crisis presentations Methods: Co-produced with experts-by-experience, a mixed methods approach using a 13 question Likert based survey of health and social-care professionals along with semi-structured interviews of carers involved with consecutive Blue-Light patient reviews was undertaken in Cornwall UK (population: 538,000). Patient data was accessed to understand the patient journey. All data analysis was descriptive in nature. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step process. Results: Ten patient journeys were examined. Staff interviewed had a good understanding of the Blue-Light process, Blue-Light activation practical challenges and considered Blue-Light reactive. Nearly half wanted ID/A specialist beds recommissioned. A majority wanted improved supervision and standards for third sector providers. Semi-structured interviews of 10 patient-carers identified a lack of consistency from professionals, limited infrastructure provision, the prolongation of crises and a lack of definition of crisis as carers did not feel supported by services. Conclusions: Current crisis support systems are not standardised and often leave carers feeling unsupported in crises. An evidence-based debate of crisis support and the inpatient role for PwID/A is required.

Keywords: Intellectual disability; inpatient admission; crisis; emergency psychiatry; Blue-Light (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:71:y:2025:i:4:p:782-793

DOI: 10.1177/00207640241303831

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