Disability
What is disability?
Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
How does disability affect mental health?
People with a physical disability or physical health problem are more likely to experience a mental health problem. In contrast, people with mental health problems are more likely to experience physical health problems.
- More than 15 million people - 30% of the UK population - live with one or more long-term conditions, and more than 4 million of these people will also have mental health problems.
- People with long-term physical conditions are likelier to have lower well-being scores than those without.
- People with cancer, diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure are at greater risk of a range of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.
- Of people with severe symptoms of mental health problems, 37.6% also have long-term physical conditions. This compares with 25.3% of people with no or few symptoms of a mental health problem.
Support
Here are some local organisations that can help those that are disabled. If there any any that we haven't listed, let us know by clicking here.
If you would like to explore some national organisations, please click here.
Disability Action Yorkshire
We support disabled people in achieving their life aspirations, whatever they may be.
We are a charity and social enterprise, providing services that create opportunities for disabled people to live the lifestyle of their choosing.
Established in 1937, we have been providing quality services for over 80 years. As a Disability Confident Leader, we celebrate and promote diversity at every level of our organisation. We are committed to the development of new services where there is a need, and where we believe we have the ability and resources to meet that need.
DIAL Leeds
In the 'Year of the Disabled' 1981, a group of people with disabilities met with the then Wakefield Council for Voluntary Services, to discuss ways of providing and maintaining an advice and information service for people with disabilities.
The hard work started in 1981 to bring the project together. Funding was found along with premises and a Steering Committee was formed. In early 1984, Wakefield's first telephone advice line for people with disabilities was born. It had one paid worker who worked tirelessly to build the foundations of the service. Since the first day (which recorded a total of 3 telephone calls) dedicated staff and the invaluable support of committed and spirited volunteers, have seen the quality and range of services we provide go from strength to strength.
That's Mental Mate!
