🔵 Module Aim
This module helps you understand:
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Autism
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ADHD
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Epilepsy
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Mental Health
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Mental Health First Aid
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Counselling support
It focuses on:
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Safety
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Wellbeing
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Personalised support
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Early help
🧠 1. Understanding the Conditions
🧩 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism affects how a person:
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Communicates
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Socialises
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Understands situations
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Processes sensory information
Some autistic people may:
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Prefer routines
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Find eye contact difficult
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Be sensitive to noise or light
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Have strong interests
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Repeat movements or words
✔️ Autism is lifelong
✔️ Every person is different
⚡ ADHD
ADHD affects:
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Attention
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Activity levels
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Impulsivity
A person may:
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Be easily distracted
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Move a lot
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Talk a lot
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Act quickly without thinking
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Hyper-focus on interests
✔️ ADHD is neurological
✔️ Not caused by poor parenting or behaviour
🚑 Epilepsy & Seizures
Epilepsy affects the brain and causes seizures.
Seizures may include:
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Shaking
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Staring
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Confusion
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Collapse
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Loss of awareness
Some people have triggers such as:
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Flashing lights
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Stress
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Tiredness
🏫 2. Environmental & Support Strategies
🔇 Reduce Sensory Triggers
Helpful adjustments:
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Quiet spaces
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Soft lighting
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Headphones
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Calm classrooms
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Less clutter
This reduces anxiety and overload.
📅 Clear Structure
Use:
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Visual timetables
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Routine charts
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Transition warnings
This helps people feel safe and prepared.
🎯 Attention Support
Strategies:
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Small tasks
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Clear instructions
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Movement breaks
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Fidget tools
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Seating near staff
🚨 Seizure Safety
Staff should:
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Know triggers
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Follow Seizure Action Plans
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Stay calm
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Protect from injury
Never:
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Put objects in mouth
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Restrain movements
💙 3. What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is about:
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How we think
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How we feel
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How we cope
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How we manage life
Everyone has mental health — just like physical health.
It can be:
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Good
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Poor
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Changing over time
🧠 4. Types of Mental Illness
There are many types.
😟 Anxiety Disorders
People may feel:
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Worried
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Panicked
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Fearful
Examples:
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General anxiety
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Social anxiety
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Phobias
😢 Depression
People may feel:
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Sad
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Hopeless
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Tired
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Unmotivated
They may lose interest in things.
🌪️ Trauma & PTSD
Caused by frightening events.
Symptoms:
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Flashbacks
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Nightmares
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Fear
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Hyper-alertness
🧍 Personality Disorders
Affect:
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Thinking
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Emotions
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Relationships
🧠 Psychotic Disorders
May include:
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Hallucinations
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Delusions
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Confused thinking
Example: Schizophrenia.
🩺 5. Treatment & Support
Mental illness can be treated and supported.
💊 Medication
Doctors may prescribe medication to help with:
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Mood
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Anxiety
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Psychosis
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Sleep
🗣️ Counselling & Therapy
Talking therapies help people:
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Express feelings
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Process trauma
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Learn coping skills
Examples:
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CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy)
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Person-centred counselling
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Trauma therapy
🤝 Social Support
Support may include:
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Family help
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Peer groups
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Support workers
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Community services
🧘 Self-Help Strategies
People may use:
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Exercise
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Mindfulness
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Routine
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Creative activities
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Relaxation
🆘 6. Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid means:
Helping someone in mental distress until professional help arrives.
A Mental Health First Aider can:
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Listen without judgement
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Reassure the person
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Stay calm
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Encourage professional help
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Support in crisis
They do NOT diagnose or treat.
🗣️ 7. Role of Counselling
Counsellors provide:
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Confidential listening
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Emotional support
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Coping strategies
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Safe space to talk
They follow:
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Ethics
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Confidentiality rules
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Safeguarding duties
🔗 8. Link Between Conditions & Mental Health
People with:
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Autism
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ADHD
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Epilepsy
May experience higher risk of:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Social isolation
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Trauma
Support must consider both:
✔️ Neurological needs
✔️ Mental health needs
🧾 Key Messages
✔️ Mental health is part of overall health
✔️ Early support matters
✔️ Staff need training
✔️ First aid saves lives
✔️ Counselling supports recovery
❓ Easy Read Questions
Section 1 – Conditions
1. Autism affects communication.
☐ True ☐ False
2. ADHD affects attention.
☐ True ☐ False
3. Epilepsy causes seizures.
☐ True ☐ False
Section 2 – Environment
4. Name one sensory support tool:
✎ __________________
5. Visual timetables reduce:
☐ Anxiety ☐ Hunger ☐ Noise
Section 3 – Mental Health
6. Mental health is about how we think and feel.
☐ True ☐ False
7. Name one mental illness:
✎ __________________
Section 4 – Treatment
8. Counselling involves talking support.
☐ True ☐ False
9. Medication can support mental illness.
☐ True ☐ False
Section 5 – Mental Health First Aid
10. A First Aider should listen calmly.
☐ True ☐ False
11. Do First Aiders diagnose conditions?
☐ Yes ☐ No
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