The sudden passing of RJ Mitte has deeply affected many people in the cerebral palsy community (RJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad, dies aged 34, 12 October). His success challenged assumptions and showed what can be achieved when people are given opportunities and support.
Yet the 165,000 people with cerebral palsy in the UK are too often underestimated. Others frequently decide what we can and cannot do without recognising our abilities, ambitions or potential.
With the right support, we can live fulfilling, successful and meaningful lives. For that reason, the reported circumstances surrounding RJ’s death may surprise some people. Unfortunately, mental health is often overlooked. People with cerebral palsy are more likely to develop mental health conditions and experience poor wellbeing.
We continue to face prejudice, low expectations and barriers that others rarely encounter. We are often excluded from opportunities, left feeling isolated, and denied the support needed to reach our full potential. As a result, many of us are required to build far greater resilience and self-confidence than our able-bodied peers.
People with cerebral palsy can and do thrive. We build careers, contribute to our communities and achieve remarkable things. But success should not depend on resilience alone. We need support to help us get there.
In the UK, many people with cerebral palsy – a lifelong condition – face a cliff edge when they turn 18. The care and support they received as children often disappears as they transition into adulthood.
We deserve lifelong support and an integrated care pathway that recognises the physical and mental health impacts of cerebral palsy, including access to specialist mental health services.
Dr Denise Al Mari-de Waal and Aaron Hume
UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement
