🧪 1. Quiz / Questions (Version 3)
🟡 Multiple Choice
Meltdowns are:
A. Naughty behaviour
B. A response to overwhelm ✅
Anxiety is:
A. Rare
B. Common with autism and ADHD ✅
Parents may feel:
A. Confident straight away
B. Unsure and overwhelmed ✅
🟢 True or False
Meltdowns are on purpose → ❌ False
Anxiety is common → ✔ True
Behaviour can be communication → ✔ True
✍️ Short Answer
What is a meltdown?
👉 A response to overwhelm
Name one support strategy:
👉 Stay calm / reduce noise
Why is understanding important?
👉 It helps reduce distress
📊 2. Assessment Sheet (Version 4)
Learner Name: ____________________
Tutor: ____________________
Date: ____________________
🧠 Knowledge
☐ Understands anxiety & depression links
☐ Understands meltdowns
☐ Recognises family needs
🤝 Skills
☐ Responds calmly
☐ Supports emotional needs
☐ Communicates clearly
❤️ Attitude
☐ Empathetic
☐ Patient
☐ Non-judgemental
⚠️ Safety
☐ Recognises distress
☐ Knows when to seek help
📊 3. PowerPoint Slides (Version 5)
Slide 1: Autism, ADHD & Mental Health
Slide 2: Anxiety & Depression
Slide 3: What is a meltdown?
Slide 4: Family experiences
Slide 5: Support strategies
Slide 6: Key message
🧩 4. Activity Sheet (Version 6)
Activity 1 – Think
What is a meltdown?
Activity 2 – List
- One feeling
- One support strategy
- One key message
Activity 3 – Scenario
A child is having a meltdown in a shop.
👉 What would you do?
Activity 4 – Reflection
Why is it important not to judge behaviour?
🌟 5. Final Key Messages
- Anxiety and depression are common
- Meltdowns are not bad behaviour
- Families need support too
- Understanding takes time
- Kindness and patience make a difference
💬 6. Powerful Closing Statement
👉 “What looks like bad behaviour is often someone struggling — and it’s adults learning how to support that makes the difference.”
🧠 Mental Health in Autism & ADHD (Full Training Section)
🧬 7. Overview
Autistic individuals and those with ADHD often experience:
- Higher rates of mental health conditions
- Emotional sensitivity
- Communication challenges
👉 Mental health is part of support, not separate from it.
📊 8. Co-Occurring Conditions
- Autism + ADHD frequently co-occur
- Over half of autistic children may also have ADHD
- Mental health conditions are also common
👉 This is called co-occurrence
🧠 9. Common Mental Health Conditions
💭 Anxiety
- Very common in autism and ADHD
- Often linked to sensory overload or uncertainty
😔 Depression
-
May develop due to:
- Social difficulties
- Masking
- Long-term stress
⚠️ 10. Behaviour as Communication
Behaviour may be a signal of:
- Anxiety
- Overwhelm
- Communication difficulties
- Sensory distress
👉 Behaviour is the visible part of an invisible struggle
🧠 11. Unique Challenges
Individuals may:
- Want social connection but struggle to manage it
- Need routine but feel bored by repetition
- Experience internal conflict between structure and change
🗣️ 12. Communication Challenges
Some individuals may:
- Struggle to express emotions
- Not recognise feelings easily
- Show distress through behaviour instead of words
👉 This can lead to misunderstanding and delayed support
🛠️ 13. Support Strategies
🧠 Therapeutic Support
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
- DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)
🏠 Environmental Support
- Structured routines
- Predictable environments
- Visual supports
🧘 Lifestyle Support
- Exercise
- Sleep routines
- Balanced daily activity
💊 Medical Support
- ADHD medication
- Anxiety and depression treatment
- Psychiatric support when needed
🤝 Educational Support
- SENCO involvement
- Individual learning plans
- Advocacy services
🧪 14. Professional Support Approach
✔ Holistic support includes:
- Emotional
- Behavioural
- Educational
- Medical
✔ Collaboration between:
- Families
- Schools
- Professionals
- Medical teams
🚨 15. Crisis Support
If someone is in distress:
📞 USA Crisis Line: 988
- Call or text 988
- Available 24/7
🌍 16. Support Organisations
🧩 Autism & ADHD Support
- Autism Society
- Autistica
- Autism Speaks
🧠 Mental Health Support
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
💚 17. Strengths
People with Autism and ADHD may have:
- Creativity 🎨
- Focus in interests 🔍
- Problem-solving skills 🧠
- Passion and intensity ❤️
- Unique perspectives 🌍
⚠️ 18. Key Professional Understanding
Behaviour may reflect:
- Overload
- Fear
- Confusion
- Frustration
- Lack of support
👉 Always ask:
“What is this behaviour communicating?”
🧩 19. Support Principles
✅ Do:
- Be patient
- Be consistent
- Use clear communication
- Validate feelings
- Support strengths
❌ Avoid:
- Overloading information
- Rushing responses
- Ignoring behaviour signals
- Making assumptions
🧠 20. Key Message
👉 Mental health support is essential for wellbeing
💚 With support:
- Individuals can thrive
- Families can feel empowered
- Outcomes improve significantly
🎓 21. Reflection Questions
- What is co-occurrence?
- Why might behaviour happen?
- Name one support strategy
- Why is routine important?
- What strengths might someone have?
🧪 22. Activity Ideas
🧩 Scenario
A young person becomes overwhelmed and withdraws.
- What might they be feeling?
- What support would help?
🤝 Support Plan
Include:
- Communication strategies
- Environmental adjustments
- Emotional support
- Strength-based approach
🌟 23. Final Key Messages
💚 Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental differences
💚 Mental health is part of support
💚 Behaviour is communication
💚 Support must be individualised
💚 Strengths are just as important as challenges
💚 Early support improves outcomes
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