Getting the Support You Need
Understanding your feelings and what is happening in your mind can be hard.
Sometimes, other people might notice you are having a hard time before you notice it yourself.
What is Mental Health?
SortedSupported has a page all about looking after your mental health. Click the link below to open this page.
There are videos, and other Easy Read guides on the page.
Clues that you might need support
Check if you are having any of these changes in your life:
- Sleeping: You struggle to fall asleep, wake up in the night, or have sleepless nights.
- Eating: You eat less than usual or much more than usual.
- Friends and relationships: You avoid spending time with friends or loved ones.
- Family: A friend or family member says they are worried about you.
- Energy: You feel very tired, or you are exercising much more than normal.
- Drugs and alcohol: You use alcohol or drugs to cope with how you feel.
- Hobbies: You lose interest in things you usually like to do.
- Taking care of yourself: It is hard to wash, brush your teeth, or take care of your personal hygiene.
Getting advice
Talking to a friend or relative you trust is a good way to start feeling better.
Below are some things you can read to help.
If you already get NHS specialist mental health support: You may need different advice. Speak directly to your support team or caseworker.
Why do I feel this way?
There are many reasons you might feel bad:
- Something upsetting or stressful happened recently.
- Something bad happened a long time ago.
- A mix of small things is making you feel bad.
- You might not know the reason at all, and that is okay.
Check the SortedSupported pages for Coping with Common Issues and What’s in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to find local help.
Where to find support – Learning Disability and Easy Read Resources
Learning Disability Wales – Easy read guide to mental health
This guide by Learning Disability Wales was made to help people with learning disabilities learn about mental health and how to look after their mental health and well-being.
Includes information on:
Breathing exercises, mindfulness, depression, healthy eating, keeping active.
Mencap
Learning disability is often confused with mental health problems. Find out more about the difference by visiting the Mencap website.
Mencap
Help with your mental health and wellbeing – where to find help and advice about mental health.
Learning Disability Today
How to provide mental health support for people with learning disabilities
Learning Disability Today
Mental Health Support for People with Learning Disabilities – PowerPoint.
Self Help
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Feeling Down: Looking After My Mental Health – Free resource.
An easy read, interactive guide to looking after your mental health for people with learning disabilities.
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
My Staying Healthy Plan
Use this plan to make decision about how to stay healthy, when you’ll do the things you plan, and who you’ll ask to help.
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
My Feelings Chart
Record your feelings in this weekly diary to help you keep track of your mental health, think about what makes you feel unhappy and what can help you feel better.
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Things I feel in my body
Use this worksheet to tell people about how you feel in your body.
Guided self-help for people with intellectual disabilities and anxiety and depression.
Guided self-help for people with intellectual disabilities and anxiety and depression.
Other online places to look for self help resources
In this digital age, there is a lot of virtual support available for help with mental health.
There are also a lot of self-help books available through your local library.
SilverCloud
Online courses that teach skills to manage your stress and mental health in your own time.
Mind Shift App
A free mobile phone app that gives you tools to manage worry and anxiety.
Mood Tracker App
A website app that lets you track your daily mood and sleeping patterns.
Video on Fuelling Anxiety
A short video by EmpowerU explaining how thoughts and emotions cause anxiety.