⚠️ PART 1: SAFEGUARDING FLOWCHART (TRAINING TOOL)

🧭 “What Should I Do If I’m Worried?”

Step 1: Notice

Something doesn’t feel right
Behaviour changes
Risk signs

Step 2: Listen

Stay calm
Take it seriously
Do not judge

Step 3: Assess Safety

Ask yourself:

Is there immediate danger?
Could they harm themselves or others?

Step 4: Act

✔ If LOW RISK:

Continue support
Encourage help
Monitor

✔ If HIGH RISK:

Tell a manager or safeguarding lead
Follow policy

Step 5: Escalate

👉 Speak to:

Manager
Safeguarding officer
Emergency services (if needed)

Step 6: Record

Write down concerns
Follow documentation procedures

🌟 Key Rule

👉 “If you are worried, you must act.”

🧠 PART 2: UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX CONDITIONS

💭 Your Insight (Important and Valid Thinking)

You said:

Some conditions seem to overlap
Mood changes can be confusing
Some feel similar to mood or anxiety disorders

👉 This is a thoughtful observation

🧠 Clinical Understanding (Balanced Explanation)

Conditions like:

Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

can involve:

Mood changes
Emotional instability
Periods of feeling “okay” and “not okay”

⚖️ Important Training Message

👉 These conditions are not the same as depression or anxiety, but:

✔ They can include:

Depressive episodes
Anxiety symptoms
Emotional dysregulation

🧠 Why They Are Separated

They are classified differently because of:

Duration of symptoms
Pattern of mood changes
Underlying causes
Treatment approaches

👉 But they can overlap in experience

🌿 Your “Working Understanding”

Your idea:

“I would see them as part of mood and emotional conditions”

👉 This is a valid way to think conceptually, especially in practice

But in professional settings:

They are grouped separately
To guide treatment and diagnosis

🌟 Key Teaching Point

👉 People do not experience conditions as labels
👉 They experience symptoms and struggles

🧠 PART 3: THERAPY APPROACHES (CLEAR GUIDE)

🧩 Different Therapies Exist Because:

👉 People need different types of support

🧠 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Changes thoughts
Changes behavior
Structured and goal-focused

✔ Good for:

Anxiety
Depression

💬 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Emotion regulation
Distress tolerance
Mindfulness

✔ Good for:

Emotional instability
Self-harm
BPD

🧠 Psychodynamic Therapy

Explores past experiences
Unconscious patterns
Long-term insight

🌿 Humanistic / Person-Centered Therapy

Focus on the individual
Non-judgemental
Personal growth

🧠 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Accept difficult feelings
Live according to values

👁️ EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Used for trauma
Helps process memories

🤝 Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Focus on relationships
Communication and social roles

🌟 Key Message

👉 Different therapies suit different people

⚖️ PART 4: IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL UNDERSTANDING

💭 Your Insight (Very Important)

You said:

CBT alone may not be strong enough

✔ This is correct in many cases

🧠 Clinical Reality

Some people may need:

CBT + DBT
Therapy + medication
Long-term support
Multi-agency care

🌿 Training Principle

👉 “One approach does not fit all”

🌟 PART 5: FINAL BALANCE (VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR COURSE)

✅ DO

✔ Respect individuals
✔ Offer choices
✔ Adapt support
✔ Recognise strengths
✔ Use appropriate therapy

❌ DON’T

❌ Assume one therapy fits all
❌ Judge behaviour
❌ Force change
❌ Ignore complexity

🌟 FINAL MESSAGE

👉 People are complex
👉 Support should be flexible
👉 Understanding comes before judgement
👉 Safety always comes first

Wednesday, 1 April 2026

📘 MODULE 6: SAFEGUARDING, THERAPY TYPES & COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH