Understanding the Impact of Challenging Behaviour on Mental Health and Well Being
Challenging behaviours have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Young people with an intellectual disability or learning disability are at risk of isolation from social, educational, and leisure activities in the local community. Challenging behaviour can disrupt home life and endanger the safety of the person and their loved ones (such as parents, siblings, and peers).
Taking care of a child or adolescent who displays challenging behaviour can put primary caregivers under great pressure, as it can be upsetting not knowing how to support your loved one. It may also cause feelings of social isolation. Educators, medical experts, and social services should work together to accommodate families and bring peace of mind to their loved ones.
It is important to remember that individuals with complex needs exhibit types of challenging behaviour as a means to communicate their emotional reactions and needs. A humanised response to these behaviours is crucial in helping people with complex needs. With adequate social support, they can express themselves through healthy behaviour and achieve integration in their community.
Impact on Family Members
Caring for a family member who displays challenging behaviour can significantly impact your mental and physical health. Managing your child’s frequent outbursts of anger can cause emotional exhaustion and low mood. In addition to that, siblings can feel stressed and neglected. All of this may disrupt home life and bring distress to the whole family.
Primary caregivers in the family may feel stress, anger, and frustration. They may feel misunderstood by society and doubt the quality of their parenting. When challenging behaviours occur in public, a parent can feel ashamed and guilty for being unable to prevent them. The overall stigmatisation of intellectual disabilities contributes to the possibility of developing anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It’s important to remember that when your child exhibits challenging behaviour, they are trying to communicate their needs, feelings or desires. Therefore, through a person-centred approach, we can develop tools that aid communication and improve your child’s well-being.
Impact on Caregivers and Support Workers
Caregivers and professional support workers are also at risk of stress and burnout. Studies have been conducted on the experiences of support workers, revealing the impact of challenging behaviour on mental health. Frequent outbursts, including throwing things, screaming, and shouting, can result in both physical fatigue and emotional exhaustion for caregivers and support workers. It’s important for support workers to implement healthy tools to ensure their mental well-being, and so they can continue delivering care.
In order to provide quality care, support workers can use the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as a relevant psychological assessment. In cases of burnout symptoms and staff stress, carers should take short breaks and spend time on self-care before they get back to delivering professional support.
Impact on Community and Society
Public perception of challenging behaviours is riddled with stigma and prejudice. For instance, behaviours of distress are often perceived negatively. The lack of awareness about challenging behaviour can lead to the social isolation of individuals with learning disabilities and their families.
The social stigma around challenging behaviour can prevent individuals with learning disabilities from accessing the public resources needed for their care. Without the right support, challenging behaviour can lead to developing additional conditions, such as mental health difficulties. Access to social care is crucial in helping people with complex needs communicate their needs in a positive way.
Negative Feelings Influenced by Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviour related to various forms of intellectual disability can have short-term and long-term effects on the person, as well as the people around them. In case of confusion and lack of alternative ways to communicate their needs, individuals with intellectual disabilities can resort to anger towards their caregivers or peers.
Parents and teachers need to implement unique coping strategies to manage challenging behaviour, and to help individuals find healthier ways to communicate. In order to prevent outbursts of anger, they should consider the risk factors leading to such situations. The most effective way to reduce challenging behaviour is by identifying the possible triggers and removing them from the person’s environment.
How to Seek Support
Seeking quality support from trained professionals is an essential step towards helping a loved one with a learning disability or complex care needs. Positive behaviour support (PBS) from licensed psychologists or clinicians and home care from other local services are both critical in handling challenging behaviours.
Home care services take a revolutionary approach to supporting individuals with learning disabilities and other challenges causing behaviours of distress. With a tailored care plan catering to the person’s needs, people can live fulfilling lives close to their loved ones. The Unique Community Services team is trained to deliver humanised support to individuals exhibiting behaviours of distress.
Unique Community Services Can Offer Support and Relief from Managing Challenging Behaviour
At Unique Community Services, we ensure the emotional and physical safety of people with challenging behaviour and help individuals develop healthier ways to communicate. Our dedicated clinicians are trained to support adults and children with severe learning disabilities and complex care needs.
We outline a personalised behaviour support plan that aims to minimise challenging behaviours and improve outcomes. Our team works closely with the whole family to provide bespoke care and guidance to the people we serve. We see challenging behaviours as a means of communication and strive to equip people with learning disabilities with alternative resources to express their thoughts and emotions.
If you are looking for a quality support provider for yourself or a loved one with a learning disability, Unique Community Services is the right place for you. We provide support across the UK, with offices in Leeds and Manchester.
Contact us now, and we will create a personalised care plan tailored to your needs.
