Life events and mental illness in people with learning disabilities

Specific traumas, such as abuse and bereavement, and overall extent of potentially stressful life experiences are associated with increased levels of a range of behavioural and affective difficulties in people with learning disabilities. Although causality is probably complex and variable across diagnostic groups, evidence for a causal role for life events in the incidence of mental ill-health is growing. Even salient events, however, may not be perceived by carers as relevant to emotional and behavioural disturbance. Preventative strategies including use of social stories may reduce distress when life events can be anticipated. Supportive groupwork and a number of behavioural and cognitive–behavioural interventions offer promising interventions to reduce affective and other symptoms subsequent to traumatic life events.