‘It's like an itch and I want to get it away but it's still there’: understandings and experiences of anxiety and depression among young people with intellectual disabilities

PseudonymAgeCircumstancesType of difficultiesHelp and supportMoira19Lives with parents Attends college p/t. Seeking employmentEpilepsy Symptoms of anxietyTreatment for epilepsy Support from tutors at collegeSam16Lives with carer Attends a special schoolDiagnosed with low mood/depression and impulsivityBereavement counselling Psychological support Parenting support for carer. Social Work inputKaren19Lives with mother Attends college full timeDiagnosed with anxiety and depressionTreatment for epilepsy Psychological support Parenting support for carer. Referred to befriending service and Social WorkJason26Lives with family Enjoyed part-time job but no longer workingDiagnosed with acute anxietyPsychological support Social Work inputSusan19Lives with mother Recently left school and attends collegePsychiatrist noted symptoms consistent with anxiety and depressionReferred to community teamMichelle19Lives with family Attends collegeDisputed diagnosis (anxiety or epilepsy?)Referred to residential unit for epilepsy assessment Seeing college councillor and community learning disability team.Joseph17Lives with family No occupation at first, then got a job in a supermarket.Diagnosed with anxietyGP referred to psychiatrist Also referred to a supported employment schemeAdam17Lives with mother and sister Attends collegeAcute anxiety reported by college.NoneSteve25Lives with parents Attends day centre three days a weekDiagnosed with depressionHad community nurse; social worker; clinical psychologist Referred to neuropsychologistLorna23Lives with parents Attends day centreDiagnosed with anxiety and depressionPsychologistAnnLives between mother and great-aunt Stopped attending day centre. Had short work placement. No jobDiagnosed with anxiety and depressionCommunity learning disability teamMike20Community landlady/ Leaving Care Service Part–time job in a supermarketNo specific diagnosis but felt depressedSocial worker and psychologistPaul18Lives with family Looking for workSchool reported anxietyNoneSarah16Living in hostels No occupationHostel reported depressionCommunity learning disability teamDarren26Lives with familyDiagnosed with anxietyPsychiatric intervention Medication. Community nurse supportMel22Lives with familyDiagnosed with anxiety and depressionPsychiatric intervention Medication Community nurse supportGary20Living at home with father Not working, previously had full-time jobDiagnosed with depression and acute anxietyPsychiatric intervention Community nurse support Medication Period of time in hospitalNote: We have no verbal data from Lorna or Steve and limited verbal data from Jason and Sarah. There are good, and in several cases very rich, data from the other 13.