Disability and mental health

There are different ways of thinking about disability. Some people look at disability with what’s called the medical model of disability. The medical model says that Disabled people are disabled by their condition or impairment. But more and more people are using the social model of disability. This model says that Disabled people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their condition or impairment. So, for example, the medical model would say that a Deaf person is disabled because they can’t hear. But the social model would say that they’re disabled by society not being accessible enough for the Deaf community. The social model tells us that society needs to change, not Disabled people. Because it’s not Disabled people’s responsibility to make society more inclusive. It’s everyone’s responsibility.

You might already be familiar with the term ‘neurodiversity’. This word describes the idea that different people’s brains work in different ways. Many people in society are ‘neurotypical’; in other words, their brains work in a way that’s seen as standard. But some people are ‘neurodivergent’, meaning their brains don’t work in a way that’s seen as standard. This could be because of a mental health condition, or a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD.

Neurodiversity is one example of the social model of disability in practice. It recognises that nobody has a brain that is “wrong” or “faulty”; it might just work differently to other people’s. And the difficulties that neurodivergent people experience in our society aren’t because there’s anything wrong with them, but because society is designed to centre neurotypical people.

Struggling with your mental health can be a disability. It’s hard to say exactly when a mental health condition becomes a disability, because everybody’s experience is different. Ultimately it comes down to the impact your mental health has on your ability to live your life as you want. Not everyone who struggles with their mental health will consider themselves Disabled. But some do, and that’s completely valid.

Living with a disability in a society that isn’t always accessible to Disabled people can have a real impact on your mental health. However, you can struggle with your mental health in a way that’s unrelated to your disability. Whatever the reason you’re struggling with your mental health, you deserve help that’s accessible to you and acknowledges all of you.

If you’re not sure how to support a Disabled friend, ask them and listen to what they tell you. Different people have different needs, so don’t presume you know what they need from you, even if you have another friend with the same disability. Also, disability can be unpredictable, so your friend’s needs may change over time. Opening up this conversation and letting them know they can ask you if they ever need support can go a long way. But try to find a quiet time when there aren’t other distractions to have this conversation. It’s important to make sure you have the time and space to do the conversation justice.

You might have questions about your friend’s disability, and that’s okay. But don’t ask anything you wouldn’t be happy answering yourself. Disabled people often get asked very personal questions about their bodies, which isn’t okay. Nobody has the right to know anything about your body that you don’t want them to.

If your friend has accessibility needs, try to factor these into your plans. For example, if your friend uses a wheelchair, make sure that where you’re going has wheelchair access. If they have sensory issues, try to pick somewhere that isn’t too loud or bright. Or if they rely on lipreading, try to go somewhere that’s not too dark and face them when you’re speaking. It can feel really isolating if your friends are doing activities that you can’t join. If you can make it everyone’s responsibility to ensure hanging out is accessible to your friend, it can help them feel less alone.

Your Disabled friends might not always be able to hang out, or might have to cancel plans more than other friends. This could be for a number of reasons, like needing to rest or because the plans aren’t accessible to them. But keep inviting them! They will appreciate it, even if they can’t always join.