📘 1. What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness is when someone’s:

Thoughts
Feelings
Behaviour

are affected in a way that causes distress or difficulty in daily life.

🟢 Common Types of Mental Illness

Depression
Anxiety
Personality disorders
Psychotic disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)
Eating disorders
Substance use disorders

📘 2. What is a Disability?

A disability is something that makes everyday life harder.

It can affect:

Movement
Learning
Communication
Mental health

Some disabilities are:

Visible (e.g. wheelchair use)
Invisible (e.g. learning disability, mental illness)

📘 3. Types of Disabilities

🧩 Learning Disability

Affects understanding and learning
Lifelong
Needs support

🧠 Mental Health Disability

Mental illness can also be a disability
Affects thinking, mood, behaviour

🦽 Physical Disability

Affects movement or physical ability
Example: mobility issues, chronic illness

👁️ Sensory Disability

Affects sight or hearing
May need aids or support

📘 4. How Mental Illness and Disability Are Linked

People with disabilities may:

Feel misunderstood
Feel isolated
Face barriers in life

This can increase risk of mental health problems.

Mental illness can also become a disability itself if it affects daily life.

📘 5. Signs Someone May Be Struggling

Look for:

Mood changes
Withdrawal from others
Anxiety or distress
Changes in sleep or eating
Difficulty coping

These may be signs of mental illness or emotional distress.

📘 6. Important Understanding

Not everyone shows signs
Some people hide how they feel
Everyone experiences things differently

👉 Always take concerns seriously

📘 7. Supporting Someone

✅ Do:

Listen
Be patient
Take them seriously
Speak clearly
Offer support

❌ Do NOT:

Judge
Ignore
Assume
Force

📘 8. Why This Matters

Mental illness and disability can affect:

Daily life
Relationships
Work or education
Independence

👉 Support helps people live better lives

📊 POWERPOINT SLIDES (READY CONTENT)

Slide 1

Types of Mental Illness and Disabilities

Slide 2

What is Mental Illness?

Affects thoughts, feelings, behaviour

Slide 3

Types of Mental Illness

Depression
Anxiety
Personality disorders
Psychosis

Slide 4

What is Disability?

Makes daily life harder

Slide 5

Types of Disability

Learning disability
Physical disability
Sensory disability
Mental health disability

Slide 6

How They Are Linked

Disability can affect mental health
Mental illness can become a disability

Slide 7

Signs to Look For

Mood changes
Withdrawal
Anxiety

Slide 8

How to Support

Listen
Be patient
Do not judge

📘 WORKBOOK VERSION

Activity 1

What is mental illness?
👉 _______________________

Activity 2

Name 2 types of mental illness:
👉 _______________________
👉 _______________________

Activity 3

Name 2 types of disability:
👉 _______________________
👉 _______________________

Activity 4

What are signs someone is struggling?
👉 _______________________

Activity 5

How can you support someone?
👉 _______________________

🧑‍🏫 TRAINER GUIDE

Learning Objectives

Learners will:

Understand types of mental illness
Understand types of disabilities
Recognise links between them
Learn support strategies

Activities

Group discussion

What is the difference between disability and mental illness?

Scenario task

Someone becomes withdrawn — what do you do?

Key Teaching Point

👉 Mental illness and disability are different
👉 But they can affect each other

📝 QUIZ

Mental illness affects:
a) Only the body
b) Thoughts, feelings, behaviour ✅

True or False:
Mental illness can be a disability
✅ True

Name one disability:
✅ Example: Learning disability

🪧 POSTER VERSION

🧠 YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Mental illness is real
Disabilities are different for everyone
Support matters
Listen. Care. Help.

💡 YOUR KEY MESSAGE (VERY STRONG POINT FROM YOUR WORK)

This is important — and you’ve highlighted it really well in your writing:

👉 Not all disabilities are visible
👉 Not all mental illness is obvious
👉 People may struggle silently
👉 Support, not judgement, is what matters

Friday, 27 March 2026

🧠 EASY READ FULL TRAINING COURSE Types of Mental Illness and Disabilities