A recent large-scale study has found that siblings of autistic children are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with autism themselves, a rate 20% higher than infants without autistic siblings. The US-led research, published by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), followed 1,605 infants with older autistic siblings across the US, Canada, and the UK, tracking their development from infancy to the age of three.

The study revealed that the likelihood of autism increases if a child has more than one autistic sibling, with a 37% chance of being diagnosed compared to 21% for those with just one autistic sibling. Boys were found to be almost twice as likely as girls to develop autism. Researchers also noted a higher recurrence rate in non-white families.

The findings mirrored previous studies and emphasised the need for close monitoring of siblings of autistic children, particularly in families with less access to care. Early intervention and diagnosis remain crucial, especially in families facing socio-economic challenges.

The study also highlighted educational disparities, with the recurrence rate decreasing as the mother’s education level increased. Researchers stressed the importance of further research into social determinants of health that may contribute to these trends but acknowledged that more work is needed to answer these complex questions.

Free NHS eyesight, hearing, and dental checks will soon be available to over 18,000 young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) attending residential special schools and colleges across England. This initiative aims to ensure that any health issues are identified promptly, allowing children and young people to receive appropriate care and follow-up support quickly.

Research indicates that autistic children and those with learning disabilities are at a higher risk of developing eyesight, hearing, and dental problems compared to their peers. Additionally, they may struggle to communicate their difficulties, making early detection even more crucial. After successful pilot programmes in residential special schools during 2022 and 2023, the NHS will expand these sensory checks to all special residential schools and colleges next year.

The new programme will include a minimum of one annual face-to-face dental check, along with regular oral health advice to address concerns such as applying fluoride varnish and promoting effective toothbrushing. Hearing assessments will be conducted when children enter school and during key transitions, with referrals made to GPs or local audiology teams if any issues arise.

Tom Cahill, National Learning Disability and Autism Director at NHS England, emphasised the importance of these specialised checks in meeting the needs of vulnerable children in residential settings. He stated that tailored services delivered by trained staff will ensure these young individuals receive the same level of sensory checks that their peers do, ultimately addressing health inequalities and enhancing overall well-being.

Individuals who have faced challenges in securing employment due to mental health issues will soon receive valuable support aimed at facilitating their return to work. Workbridge, an initiative under the mental health charity St Andrew's Healthcare, has been granted £60,000 by West Northamptonshire Council, which is controlled by the Conservative party. This funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is part of a broader initiative designed to enhance local skills in Northampton.

The programme will focus on providing wellbeing support alongside essential skills training. Dr Inga Stewart, a consultant psychologist at St Andrew's, emphasised the collective responsibility to create supportive work environments that safeguard mental health. Statistics from Mental Health UK indicate that over 20% of employees took leave last year due to stress, highlighting the urgent need for effective workplace mental health strategies.

The five-week programme will empower participants to develop new skills, cultivate resilience, and boost their confidence, ultimately aiding their journey towards employment. Jenny Lane, Workbridge's education manager, expressed pride in assisting individuals living with mental illness, autism, learning disabilities, or brain injuries in acquiring vital vocational and life skills.

Referrals to the Workbridge vocational programme will be facilitated through the Department for Work and Pensions and Northampton's Wellbeing Launchpad, although self-referrals will also be accepted for those who meet the necessary criteria. This initiative represents a significant step forward in supporting mental health recovery and enhancing employability within the community.

According to new research by Support SEND Kids, two in five parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have had to leave their jobs due to insufficient support. The study, titled "Fighting for your SEND child: the hidden cost", surveyed 519 parents, revealing that only 12% saw no change to their working lives. Nearly half (48%) reduced their hours or moved to more flexible roles, while 40% left work entirely.

Key reasons cited for these changes included a lack of help from local authorities, limited school support, and inflexibility from employers. Many parents also struggled to obtain the necessary Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for their child, with some leaving work during this fight for adequate provisions.

Families of children with SEND face significant financial burdens, with many resorting to private assessments due to long NHS waiting times. Hidden costs, such as private reports and legal fees for tribunals, further exacerbate these pressures. Parents described the emotional and mental toll of navigating a system that often falls short in providing necessary support.

The report suggests that the solution lies in increased funding and resources for SEND services. Many parents feel they are constantly battling for their children’s rights and argue that more government support is urgently needed to address these challenges.

A new report reveals that children with special educational needs (SEN) are five times more likely to be permanently excluded from school compared to their peers without SEN. The analysis, conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and The Difference, highlights a 20% rise in suspensions and exclusions in the 2023/24 academic year, leading to the loss of 32 million school days due to unauthorised absences and exclusions. Children from low-income families, those with SEN, and those facing mental health challenges are among the most affected.

The report also finds that children with severe mental health needs classified as SEN are 17 times more likely to be placed in alternative provision schools for excluded pupils. Since the pandemic, there has been a 56% rise in children moving from state-run to privately-run provision funded by the state, with annual costs per child reaching as high as £111,000 - double the cost of state settings.

IPPR research expressed concerns over the increasing number of vulnerable children missing out on education, calling for urgent reforms to address this "crisis of lost learning." The report estimates that each permanently excluded child incurs a lifetime cost of £170,000, with the most recent excluded cohort alone potentially costing the state £1.6 billion.

In response, the newly formed "Who’s Losing Learning Solutions Council" will gather evidence from experts between September 2024 and March 2025 to develop national policy solutions. The council aims to support mainstream schools in better addressing the needs of all children, particularly those struggling with mental health, and to improve inclusivity and support for SEN students.

Young adults with ADHD are struggling to access treatment as they transition from children's to adult services, due to poor coordination between services, according to new research. A national survey by the University of Exeter revealed significant inconsistencies in the prescribing and management of ADHD medication in primary care, especially when young people move to adult mental health services. This is despite NICE guidelines recommending shared-care agreements between GPs and adult mental health services for ADHD medication.

Over 40% of respondents reported waiting more than two years for an appointment with adult services, leaving GPs to manage their care. However, many GPs expressed concerns about prescribing ADHD medication without adequate support, citing issues with insurance and liability. This situation is particularly challenging for those with private ADHD diagnoses, leaving some patients without access to vital medication that had been effective during their childhood.

The survey also highlighted that certain underserved groups, such as young women and care leavers, face even greater difficulties in accessing treatment, further exacerbating health inequalities. This lack of coordinated care is increasing the disparity in ADHD treatment across the country.

Dr Anna Price from the University of Exeter stressed the need for a more joined-up approach to support GPs in managing ADHD under shared-care agreements. She emphasised the importance of consistent treatment during the transition to adulthood, particularly at a critical life stage when young people are managing key milestones like exams, university, or starting their careers.

New research from disability charity Sense reveals that the health and wellbeing of disabled people in the UK is being severely neglected, with 1.3 million individuals with complex disabilities not getting enough physical activity to maintain their health. The survey, which included over 1,000 adults with complex disabilities, found that 81% are doing less than the NHS-recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, with more than a third exercising for less than 30 minutes.

Nearly half of those surveyed expressed a desire to be more active but cited barriers such as inaccessible venues, transportation, and a lack of trained staff. Additionally, over a quarter reported not receiving enough information about inclusive sporting opportunities in their local area.

Professor Greg Whyte from Liverpool John Moore’s University criticised the lack of support, describing the situation as “mass disability neglect.” He called for simple changes, like better staff training and improved access, to help disabled people get the exercise they need to reduce the risk of long-term health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Sense is aiming to tackle these issues with its Sense Active programme, which aims to support 5,000 people with complex disabilities and train over 1,000 coaches by 2027. The initiative, funded by a £2.2 million grant, seeks to break down barriers and redesign sports to ensure meaningful participation for all.

According to recent research from the Resolution Foundation, one in four disabled children lose access to disability benefits as they transition into adulthood. The report, titled Growing Pressures, examines the increasing number of children under 16 with disabilities and its impact on the benefits system. The study found that the number of children receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in England and Wales has doubled over the past decade, reaching 682,000 in 2023. This rise is largely due to an increase in awards for children with learning difficulties, behavioural disorders, and ADHD.

The report highlights that while the number of children receiving DLA has surged, it doesn't reflect an easing of eligibility criteria. Instead, most children awarded DLA have significant care needs that affect their daily lives. Notably, the middle rate care component has seen the largest increase, with a 116% rise over the past decade, while the highest care rate has doubled.

As children approach adulthood, the transition to working-age disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), poses challenges. Although four-fifths of initial DLA-to-PIP reassessments result in a PIP award, 13% of young people fail to make a PIP claim, leading to a significant drop in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds receiving disability benefits.

The Resolution Foundation emphasises the need for a smoother transition between child and adult disability benefits. They argue that addressing the underlying causes of rising disability rates, rather than focusing solely on benefit eligibility, is crucial for creating a sustainable solution.

Millions of people in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now access 24/7 support through a single phone line, as announced by the NHS. By calling 111 and selecting the mental health option, individuals of all ages, including children, can speak to trained professionals who provide guidance, arrange face-to-face support, or direct them to alternative services like crisis cafés or safe havens. This new service replaces the previously separate local crisis lines and aims to simplify access to urgent mental health care across the country.

This initiative positions the NHS in England as one of the first health systems globally to offer comprehensive mental health crisis support through one unified phone number. The service is designed to ensure that people in crisis receive timely and appropriate care, reducing the need for hospital admissions. In cases where there is a life-threatening risk, every emergency department in England now has liaison psychiatric teams available to offer specialised care, ensuring that those in need are not left without critical support.

The NHS has invested an additional £2.3 billion to expand mental health services, including the recruitment of 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and improve access to treatment. The public is encouraged to use this service by calling 111 for urgent mental health support or 999 if there is an immediate risk to life. This expansion reflects the NHS's commitment to addressing the growing demand for mental health care.

Support options, including NHS Talking Therapy Services, are readily available online, ensuring that those with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD can easily find help. The service also provides tailored support for deaf individuals through the NHS 111 website, making it accessible to a broader population. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that everyone in need can access the mental health support they require.

A new study by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory reveals that adults with learning disabilities are more likely to die from cancer than the general population, with a higher rate of avoidable cancer deaths. The research, conducted by the University of Glasgow, suggests that later diagnosis, poorer treatment options, and lower treatment compliance may contribute to these worse outcomes.

Published in BMJ Open, the study highlights a greater incidence of metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin among adults with learning disabilities, with three times more deaths occurring at advanced stages compared to the general population. Women with learning disabilities were found to have higher mortality rates from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cancers of unknown origin, while men were more likely to die from colorectal cancer and similar unknown origin cancers.

Researchers are now advocating for public health strategies that address the specific needs of individuals with learning disabilities. They emphasise the importance of raising awareness among caregivers about cancer symptoms to support early detection. Additionally, clinicians are urged to provide preventive measures and be mindful that cancer in this population often presents at a late stage.

Professor Deborah Cairns, Director of the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory, pointed out that the study highlights persistent health inequalities for people with learning disabilities, including a 20-year mortality gap. Lead researcher Dr. Laura Ward expressed concern over the findings, stressing the need for further investigation into why this population is missing out on potentially lifesaving cancer treatments.