The Impact of Physical Disabilities on Mental Health

The Link Between Physical Disability and Mental Health

Two-thirds of people in the UK report experiencing mental health challenges during a lifetime. The high incidence of mental health difficulties underlines the meaning of inner and emotional welfare.

Mental health awareness helps educate people about the importance of internal well-being and reduces stigma and discrimination. Showing people acceptance and respect can help remove barriers and successfully cope with the mental health challenges they face. This is especially important for people with a limitation on a person’s physical functioning or cognitive functioning.

Studies show that people with disabilities can enjoy good mental and physical health with the proper assessment and support.

What is Physical Disability?

Physical disability is a long-term or intermittent condition affecting general mobility and physical functioning. Hearing, vision and speech impairment also form a part of physical disabilities. Almost 22% of the UK population has some physical or mental disability. Several health conditions stand behind physical and mobility limitations, including:

Physical assistance is typically provided to people with disabilities in the workplace in the form of adapted workstations, adapted vehicles, provided transportation, food and item shopping, and other physical aids. This service also offers constant supervision to ensure they always do the right thing.

One should note that workplaces may not necessarily be offices. They can be homes, too.

How Physical Disability Affects Mental Health

People’s mental health can be affected by the state of their physical health. People with physical disabilities are more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to those without disabilities. According to the Mental Health Foundation, in the UK, more than 15 million people live with one or more long-term conditions, and over 4 million of these people also experience mental health challenges. The experience of physical disability can affect people’s emotions and lead to:

Emotional Effects of Physical Disability

People with physical disabilities often face many emotional challenges that stem from various factors, such as latitudinal barriers, stigmatisation, isolation and lack of social inclusion, economic and healthcare factors and adjustment to new life circumstances.

Some of the most common emotional challenges that can affect people’s mental well-being include:

The Role of Support Workers in Improving Mental Health for Individuals with Physical Disabilities

Support workers have the skills to assess and treat people with dignity and respect. Their role is to provide integrated care regarding physical and mental support.

A devoted support worker ensures that the person’s human rights are met and that the person is heard, understood and supported. But most of all, a committed support worker knows how to identify a person’s skills and focuses on the strengths to help people live independent lives.

The role of a support worker is to provide individualised care beyond basic needs. The core features of a diligent caregiver include:

Be able to listen and understand a person's needs
Clear communication and responsiveness
Friendship and Bonding
Positive Attitude
Self-awareness

In addition, we can mention some of the essential activities provided by a professional support worker:

When consulting a support worker, an individual, regardless of the disability, should look for all-encompassing health assistance. This includes a unique complex care plan tailored to a person’s needs, including mental and physical assistance.

Common Mental Health Issues Experienced by Individuals with Physical Disabilities

Mental health is a complex unity of individual, social and structural interactions within a person. Most people struggle with mental health issues at some point in their lives. For people with mobility issues, maintaining a balance of mental well-being can be even more challenging. For example, people with spinal cord injuries are more susceptible to developing depression or anxiety due to the pain and sudden life changes.

Physical disability may affect a person’s physical activity, which can vary in range. Sometimes it can affect personal self-esteem and limit the adaptation to the environment. For example, due to inaccessible buildings, young people might have a limited choice of university and education. This can cause various mental challenges among vulnerable people.

Major factors that affect the mental health of people with physical disabilities include:

Social Constraints

Social barriers are often more powerful for the person than their physical limitations. Public attitudes formed on stereotypes and prejudice prevent people from having the opportunity for equal social inclusion in the community. This can significantly affect the mental well-being of people with physical disabilities and lead to more complex mental health issues.

Loneliness and Isolation

Often, people who cope with mental or physical barriers feel socially deprived. This may be due to the limited accessibility of the person to social gatherings, along with the attitudinal barriers by the community. Spending too much time alone and isolated can lead to depression and emotional detachment.

Lack of Integrated Care

Physical care is the primary focus in the treatment of motion disabilities. Therefore, most people do not receive the necessary mental health support essential for a person’s general well-being. In physical disability support, the primary focus is often on physical care, with mental health support being overlooked. Without integrated care, people do not receive the necessary mental health support, further impacting their well-being.

The benefits of integrated care include:

Improved health outcomes
Enhanced quality of life
Better management of comorbid

The Effects of Stigma and Discrimination on Mental Health for Individuals with Physical Disabilities

Community plays a key role in every person’s life. Reports show that people with physical disabilities are more likely to experience mental health issues due to social limitations rather than physical limitations.

Social discrimination against people with disabilities takes various forms, including public attitude and lack of accessible physical environment and transportation. For example, a wheelchair user may be prevented from entering a building or institution as they cannot use the stairs. This affects children, students and adults who want to study or work. Still, many facilities do not possess accessible ramps or elevators throughout the building.

Apart from the violation of essential human rights, this also imposes a restrictive attitude towards people with physical disabilities by the general population. Therefore, the issue does not lie in the disability but in the social stigma and social exclusion.

The Importance of Maintaining Mental Well-being With a Physical Disability

Mental health is a fundamental human right, and everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should have access to high-quality mental health services. Those with physical disabilities often encounter unique emotional difficulties, such as ongoing mental distress, grief, and the negative effects of stigma and discrimination. Social isolation, financial struggles, and a lack of coordinated care can further intensify these issues. Addressing these challenges through a comprehensive approach that integrates physical and mental health support is crucial. Support workers are essential in delivering person-centred care, enabling people with disabilities to better manage their well-being and improve their quality of life.

To support mental well-being, several strategies can be employed. These include:

Mental Health Awareness and Support: Increasing awareness and providing support can help reduce stigma and foster a more inclusive environment.
Counselling and Psychotherapy: Tailored mental health services can offer life-changing support.
Engaging in Activities: Activities such as relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, and swimming can improve mental health.
Connecting with Others: Maintaining social connections through phone calls, video chats, or online interactions can reduce feelings of isolation.
Community Involvement: Being part of the community or faith-based organisations can provide a sense of belonging.
Creative Therapies: Art, music, and animal-assisted therapies offer emotional processing and comfort.
Nature-Based Activities: Nature-based activities promote relaxation and mindfulness.
Social Skills Training: Guiding social skills to improve communication and social interactions.

The Benefits of Therapy with Leaf Complex Care

Counselling and psychotherapy can have a life-changing impact on people`s minds. Mental health professionals are extensively trained in making the right assessment and approach to help people accept themselves and give their full potential to live a fulfilled life, regardless of their limitations.

For example, people with acquired brain or spinal cord injury may face multiple emotional and physical challenges resulting from the new life situation. The therapist’s role is to help individuals embrace the change and focus on the bright side of life. Mental health experts offer behavioural and emotional support for children, students and adults with movement disabilities.

Occupational Therapy (OT) enhances a person’s ability to perform daily activities. OTs assess and address physical and mental functioning, providing interventions that improve strength, coordination, and cognitive skills.

Key Contributions of Leaf Complex Care’s Occupational Therapists:

Independence and Recovery: OT helps people increase their independence and speed up recovery, enabling them to return to regular activities.
Diverse Interventions: OT covers many interventions, from improving motor skills to cognitive functions like decision-making and problem-solving.
Assistive Technology: OTs assess and prescribe assistive technologies to enhance participation in daily activities.

We provide ongoing support for children, students and adults with physical limitations. Apart from the movement difficulties, we also focus on people’s mental health by giving emotional support, empathy and comprehensive social care.

Our bespoke support plans include individual daily activities to promote better physical and mental health for people with complex care needs. At Leaf Complex Care, we embrace people’s differences and help them live a rewarding life. For more information, contact us now.

Office Location: Bristol, South East, Birmingham and Somerset.