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.
Leeds Mencap
Leeds Mencap is a completely independent charity, started by and for those with learning disabilities. We’ve come a long way since we opened our doors nearly 70 years ago. Now, we directly help more than 400 families and individuals on their journey with learning disabilities and indirectly support hundreds more who use the specialist equipment and facilities in our centre.
Not only do we offer important services to people with learning disabilities; we also recognise the needs of the whole family. We’re on hand to provide advice, support, and long-term help to all those we work with.
Although we’re affiliated with national Mencap (Royal Mencap Society), we’re an independent and local charity. That means we need to secure all our own funding to continue to offer our valuable services. Support from individuals, businesses and events is extremely important to us and the work we do.
DIAL Leeds
Our work has its roots in the social model of disability and ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion. The DIAL LEEDS model of service delivery is peer support where disabled people come together to support and provide services for other disabled people. DIAL LEEDS offers a friendly, safe and supportive environment for all disabled people.
We do this through direct lived experience, understanding, knowledge, skills and training.
That's Mental Mate!
