A promising step in the right direction for vulnerable people in this anxiety-inducing COVID-19 period. Making mental health easier to understand, Healthy Mind is an Easy Read tool that perfectly fits the needs of people with Intellectual Disability. Developed by users in collaboration with the Black Dog Institute and experts from the University of New South Wales it’s an accessible website, to support people living with intellectual disabilities manage their mental wellbeing.

How does it work?

Enabled on desktop and tablet, accessibility includes:

• Easy English translation with relatable images
• an audio function for all content
• video content
• simple step-by-step guides
• worksheets and progress sheets
• design features that align with the cognitive needs of the audience

There are five online learning modules to choose from:

• Breathe and relax – a series of short videos on how to breathe deeply and relax your body
• Tackling unhelpful thinking – a series of short activities to recognise unhelpful thought patterns
• Having more fun – an activity planner to schedule more enjoyable activities into your week
• Taming anger – a series of short videos and activities on how to recognise and regulate anger
• Recognising feelings – a series of short videos and activities to help understand your emotions

Each module is structured in the same way:

• Learn about it – information and learning content about the chosen topic
• Watch it – video clips to explain the learning
• Do it – Activities to practice what has been learnt

Topics can be accessed in any order depending on the person’s needs and interests.  People may wish to come back and use parts of the program they would like to continue practising or those that they found most helpful.

What are the benefits?

Healthy Mind:

• can be accessed for free without the need to register
• is based on specially adapted psychological approaches used by doctors and psychologists
• provides support where face-to-face therapy is not available or accessible
• can be used in conjunction with face-to-face therapy by providing a supplementary level of support
• can be accessed at any time providing information, strategies and skills when required
• has a proven accessible design tested by people with ID, their supporters and health experts

Get started here.