Express CIC

Spotlight! Kate our Counselling Lead heads up a great team of counsellors This month the spotlight is on our Parent/Carer Counselling Team email counselling@Expresscic.org.uk We are also expanding our team of counsellors to join the fabulous Lydia and Anna in our Counselling Team for Autistic Adults

Challenges related to food are common among autistic individuals and can vary greatly in how they present. The conditions listed in this image are just a few examples of what some autistic people may encounter. For helpful resources on eating disorders, be sure to check out Beat   #EDAW2025 #EDAwarenessWeek

Today we published findings on avoidable deaths in adults with learning disabilities. The study, led by Dr Ewelina Rydzewska-Fazekas, Deborah Cairns et al published in the BMJ Open, found that young adults aged 25-34 with learning disabilities in Scotland are 6 times more likely to die prematurely compared to adults without learning disabilities. We also found that this group are 9 times more likely to die from treatable health conditions, which includes things like heart disease or epilepsy, or respiratory illness like pneumonia. These are all conditions that are either preventable or treatable, therefore these deaths are avoidable. These latest findings really underline that there are major health inequalities faced by young adults with learning disabilities, in particular young women, who were found to be disproportionately at risk of premature death from treatable conditions. Very sadly, this echoes the evidence that we have found in previous studies, where we learned that people with learning disabilities are dying 15-20 years younger than people without learning disabilities. Together, with Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities and Down's Syndrome Scotland, we're calling for improvements to detection, prevention and care for adults with learning disabilities and a review of the way that cause of death is recorded, to ensure appropriate & accurate recording & a better understanding of mortality among the population with learning disabilities in Scotland. You can read more about the study at https://bit.ly/4gHJNKd https://lnkd.in/eixT2J2h

📣New research from University of Glasgow reveals young adults in Scotland aged 25-34 with a learning disability are 9 times more likely to die from treatable causes, compared to the general population. Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive at Mencap says: "This research shines a light on the shocking reality that young people in Scotland with a learning disability are missing out on healthcare at scale and dying before their time. Many of these deaths are avoidable and for conditions which are treatable, and we need to do better." Reasonable adjustments such as easy-to-read information, longer appointment times, and simple explanations about treatment and care, can make all the difference in ensuring people with a learning disability get the care they need. 💬Sparkes continues: "We know that these measures and others do work, life expectancy has improved a little in recent years, but we need to keep up the effort until people with a learning disability can enjoy the same health and lifespan as everyone else." Read full statement: https://brnw.ch/21wQNKI

‘Everyone needs a night out now and then, to feel rhythm move through their bodies, to get up on the dance floor and Express themselves through music, and it was truly beautiful to see so much happiness and warmth in one building.’ https://lnkd.in/e5T4J3_v

Join Stephen Fry in supporting our Emergency Appeal. 💜 HOPELINE247 is here for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone who is concerned about someone - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. But due to rising costs, our helpline is at risk. Help us smash our Emergency Appeal target so we can make sure suicide prevention support is here 24/7 for young people when they need us the most. Thank you. Please head to the comments for the link to donate 💜

A film sharing the experiences of service users across the NHS is being launched as part of World Autism Day 2025: https://lnkd.in/d-qBeJ6V

We know how fabulous Louisa and her team are but it’s always lovely to receive such positive feedback 💜 Contact Louisa therapy@expresscic.org.uk for further details of our therapy services

This week is national Children’s Mental Health Week, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of mental health support for children and young people. With this year's theme of 'know yourself, grow yourself’, we’re focusing on empowering autistic children and young people to discuss mental health openly. Eleanor, a member of our Ambitious Youth Network, shares how learning about her autism has allowed her to support her own mental health. Let us know how understanding your autism has improved your mental health in the comments. #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #KnowYourselfGrowYourself

Regurgitated phrases about attendance and feckless parenting is always so far from the truth. I know that the families I speak to every week are far from lazy or nonchalant, they work the hardest, shelving all their own needs for their child who is in distress, desperately trying to make things work and find support and understanding. And yet still they are pressured with shame and blame as our school system goes on locating the problems in the individual, the child and/or the parents. Families who sacrifice everything, jobs lives and relationships to heal traumatised children. They know the harm that these seemingly benign environments schools can do really do. We know this is narrative that we are lazy is a deflection from spending money and resources. It’s a cheap dig. It’s a simple flick back at complex situation. But it also hurts and harms those families who actually do the most, who’ve been most impacted by a system that doesn’t serve us, it harms us.