Sunday, 29 March 2026

🧠 MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING WORKBOOK

 


Easy Read – Modules 1 to 3 (Extended)


📘 Part 1: Easy Read Workbook (with activities)


🧠 What is Mental Health?

Mental health is:

  • How we think
  • How we feel
  • How we cope with life

👉 Everyone has mental health

📝 Activity:
Write one way mental health can affect daily life:



🧠 Different Roles in Mental Health

There are many roles:

  • Support Worker
  • Teacher / Teaching Assistant
  • Counsellor
  • Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist

👉 Each role is different

📝 Activity:
Match the role with the level:

  • Support role = __________
  • Therapy role = __________

🧠 Support vs Treatment

Support:

  • Listening
  • Being kind
  • Helping someone feel safe

Treatment:

  • Therapy
  • Medication
  • Diagnosis

👉 Treatment is for trained professionals

📝 Activity:
Write one example of support:



🧠 When to Get Help

Get help if:

  • Someone is in danger
  • Someone talks about harming themselves
  • You feel unsure

👉 Always tell a supervisor

📝 Activity:
Who would you ask for help?



🧠 Part 2: Easy Read Symbols Guide

When creating your PowerPoint or Word document, add symbols like:

  • 🧠 Brain → thinking / mental health
  • ❤️ Heart → feelings / emotions
  • 👂 Ear → listening
  • 🤝 Hands → support
  • ⚠️ Warning → risk / danger
  • 🧑‍⚕️ Professional → therapist / doctor
  • 💬 Speech bubble → talking

👉 This helps make your materials more accessible


🧠 Part 3: Module 3 – Mental Health Conditions (Easy Read)


🧠 Common Mental Health Conditions

Anxiety

  • Worry that feels strong or constant
  • Fast thoughts
  • Physical symptoms (heart racing)

Depression

  • Feeling low or sad for a long time
  • Loss of interest in things
  • Low energy

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Related to trauma
  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Obsessive Thinking

  • Thinking the same thoughts over and over
  • Hard to switch off

Bipolar Disorder

  • High mood (very active, fast thinking)
  • Low mood (very low energy)

Schizophrenia / Psychosis

  • Hearing or seeing things others don’t
  • Confused thinking

Eating Disorders

  • Problems with food and body image

Personality Disorders

  • Long-term patterns in thoughts and behaviour
  • Difficulty with relationships

Neurodevelopmental Conditions

  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Dyslexia
  • Dyscalculia

👉 These affect how the brain develops


🧠 Important Learning

  • Conditions can be mild or severe
  • Each person is different
  • Not everyone shows the same signs

🧠 Part 4: Supporting People in Different Roles


🧑‍🏫 Support Worker / Care Worker

  • Help daily living
  • Listen and support
  • Report concerns

👉 You DO NOT treat mental illness


🏫 Teacher / School Support

  • Support students emotionally
  • Recognise signs of distress
  • Refer to safeguarding leads

🗣️ Counsellor

  • Talking support
  • Emotional guidance
  • May use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

🧑‍⚕️ Therapist / Psychologist

  • Therapy and structured treatment
  • May diagnose

🧠 Psychiatrist

  • Medical doctor
  • Can prescribe medication
  • Treats severe mental illness

👉 Each role has different responsibilities


🌐 Part 5: Useful Websites for Learning & Support

These websites explain how to support people and understand conditions:


General Mental Health Support


Mental Health First Aid


Workplace Mental Health


Learning Disabilities & Neurodiversity


👉 These websites help you:

  • Learn about conditions
  • Understand support
  • Find training resources

🌟 Part 6: Final Simple Summary

  • Mental health affects everyone
  • There are many different conditions
  • You can support by listening and being kind
  • Professionals provide treatment
  • Each role has different responsibilities
  • Always know your limits
  • Always ask for help when needed

🌟 Key Message

👉 You can make a difference just by listening and caring.
👉 You do not need to be a therapist to help someone.
👉 Knowing when to refer is just as important as helping.

No comments:

Post a Comment

🌿 Tips to Improve Mental Health

  🧠 Look After Your Mind Check your mental health Take time to notice how you feel each day. Practice mindfulness Focus on the pres...