Easy Read Guide to Good Mental Health in Somerset

Easy Read Guide to Good Mental Health

Do you or someone you know find reading difficult? In Somerset, many residents face reading challenges. Learning disabilities, dyslexia, limited English language skills, and other conditions can be barriers to literacy. To meet the need for accessible mental health resources, Open Mental Health worked with Somerset Council and the learning disability community to create an Easy Read Guide to Good Mental Health—a relatable and understandable resource for people who find traditional texts difficult.

Amy Hardwick, Health Improvement Manager for Somerset Council, noted the value of inclusive and straightforward mental health material:

“Everyone should be able to access information that supports them to live a healthy life and empowers them to make informed choices about their care. This resource is a great step for Somerset in making information about mental health and wellbeing more accessible for all.” 

It may surprise you to learn that statistics from 2020 suggest that about 3,100 people in Somerset live with learning disabilities and an estimated 25% to 40% also deal with mental health concerns.

Unfortunately, mental health issues sometimes don’t get the attention or treatment they need. Deteriorating mental health can creep up on us unrecognised. People can be unaware that the problems they are facing relate to their mental health and don’t identify what’s going wrong as a mental health concern. That’s where this guide comes in to help out. It offers straightforward and easy-to-understand advice on common mental health problems, how to look after your mental wellbeing, what treatments you can get, and where to go for extra support.

Harnessing the Power of Coproduction  

To ensure it meets the needs of its audience, the guide was coproduced with people who have learning disabilities. This means that they were consulted about and actively contributed to the guide’s format and content. By including the voice of lived experiences, the guide offers information in a way that works for its users.

Informative Visual Aids to Enhance Understanding  

Using the Easy Read system, the guide matches straightforward language with explanatory illustrations that assist understanding and make the guide fun to look through. These pictures clarify the text and engage users, making abstract concepts that bit easier to grasp. This visual approach is particularly beneficial for people who find reading a challenge or have the guide read to them.

Benefiting the Wider Community  

While the guide is highly valuable for those with reading difficulties, its straightforward, jargon-free language makes it a helpful resource for everyone in Somerset. It empowers readers to recognise signs of common mental health issues so they can seek appropriate support and shows them where to get it.

So, download your copy of the guide and take a step towards understanding and improving your mental health.