Member

In-patient wards can be particularly distressing environments for autistic people, and often environmental problems—basic things such as noise, echoes and harsh lighting—can adversely impact on therapeutic benefit. Where that environment is not therapeutic, it may mean that people are less likely or willing to engage with therapies. In some cases, although a particular medication may be considered clinically appropriate, the distress that can be caused by being contained in a mental health hospital may mean that the benefit of that therapeutic intervention is undermined by the hospital environment, and therefore detention in hospital can easily have a negative impact on a person’s well-being. It is vital that these environmental factors are considered, particularly, as I say, in relation to adults with a learning disability or autism, where even very small changes in everyday routines can be incredibly distressing.