📘 Easy Read Module Bullying, Abuse, Mental Health & Support Learning from the Past – Protecting People Today

 

🌱 Module Overview (Easy Read)

This module is about:

• Bullying and abuse

• Mental health and wellbeing

• Why children and students did not always feel safe to speak up

• Why staff were not always trained to deal with bullying and abuse

• How we can do better today

Many adults were not educated about:

• Mental health

• Disability

• Trauma

• Children’s rights

This meant bullying and abuse often:

• Went unnoticed

• Were ignored

• Were not reported

• Were not believed

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🕰️ Looking Back: What Happened Before (Easy Read)

In the past:

• Children were often told to be quiet

• Children were expected to obey adults

• Some adults believed

  “Children are seen and not heard”

Because of this:

• Children were scared to report bullying or abuse

• Adults did not always listen

• Some staff caused harm themselves

• Mental health was not understood

Many people did not see a counsellor or get support until college or adulthood.

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⚠️ Why This Was a Problem

When bullying or abuse is ignored:

• Children feel unsafe

• Children feel ashamed

• Mental health gets worse

• Learning becomes harder

• Trust in adults is lost

Silence does not mean nothing is wrong.
Silence often means someone is afraid.

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🌍 What Has Changed (Easy Read)

Today, we understand more about:

• Mental health

• Disability and learning differences

• Trauma and abuse

• Safeguarding

• Children’s and students’ rights

There are now:

• Counsellors

• Safeguarding rules

• Anti-bullying policies

• Mental health support

But:

• Not everyone is trained

• Some attitudes are outdated

• Some people still do not feel safe to speak up

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🧠 Key Message

“Not knowing in the past is understandable.
Not learning now is not.”

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🎓 College Version (Easy Read)

What this means in colleges

Some students:

• Were bullied at school

• Did not get support as children

• Carry trauma into adulthood

Colleges should:

• Offer counselling

• Take bullying seriously

• Support mental health

• Listen and believe students

• Make reasonable adjustments

Students have the right to:

• Safety

• Respect

• Support

• Being heard

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College Questions (Easy Read)

1. Why might some students struggle because of past bullying?

2. Is it okay to ask for mental health support at college? (Yes / No)

3. Who can students talk to if they feel unsafe?