Mental Health Pack

Evaluation

The book and flashcards can be used to aid psychiatric evaluation. They can assist with communication not only for those with speech or language difficulties, but also assist those who have difficulty talking about themselves.

The symbols can provide a vocabulary when the patient doesn’t have the language skills to talk about what they want. They can act as prompts to help convey emotions, feelings and experiences that are difficult to verbalise.

Preparation

New and difficult situations can be distressing, especially for people who need clear routines, such as people with autism. The resources can be used to help prepare someone for what is going to happen or is happening, such as going to a hospital or visiting a health professional. The resources can be used to help to reassure a patient for example about what to expect during treatment, and discharge from hospital.

Explaining a Patient’s Rights under the Mental Health Act 1983

Patients must be informed about the choices they can make and the legalities of their situation. Whether or not a patient is an informal, voluntary patient or if they are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, it is important to provide information about their Rights. 

The resources will also provide the patient with information on how they can get help, who will support them and what to do if they disagree with their treatment or care.

The book contains a comprehensive set of symbol-supported vocabulary. Each page covers a different topic related to the various domains of the Mental State Examination.

At the back of the book there are ‘core responses’ that may be used at any time; for example, the responses ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. For easy access for the patient, these pages can be photocopied and flash cards can be given to the patient to use to communicate.

Communication book contents

• Introduction
• Emotions
• Health
• Body Diagram and Senses
• Physical Health
• Medical History
• Substance Misuse
• Problems and Stress
• Appetite - Weight - Sleep - Libido
• Anxiety - Physical
• Anxiety - Thoughts
• Obsessions - Compulsions
• Behaviours
• Mood - Depression
• Mood - Hypomania
• Suicide and Self Harm
• Risk Assessment
• Thoughts
• Thoughts - Passivity - Insertion - Withdrawal
• Perceptual Disorders
• Visual Hallucinations
• Auditory Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Timelines
• People
• Places
• Summary
• Communication Sheet
  
  

Symbols can be used in different ways depending on the patient’s communication and language needs. Most of the resources supplied in the pack are available in two formats; Key Symbols and Full Symbols.

Key Symbols

Key symbols are simply one or two symbols that can be used alongside text to convey a single piece of information. At most, they provide the same amount of information as a short sentence of text. They can help reinforce meaning and give reassurance by acting as reminders for any level of reader.

Key Symbols work best to reinforce meaning to a person who is able to read text. They can also support non-readers when assisted by someone who can help them understand the message indicated by the key symbols.

Full Symbols

Full symbol documents have a higher level of support than key symbols. Their meaning is supported by illustrating every information-carrying word in the content with a symbol.

Full symbols are appropriate for people who are reading the documents independently, as it allows them to gain the near ‘word for word’ understanding that a brief summary cannot. People who have already used symbols will be most familiar with this method of support.

Flashcards

Flashcards can be used during a conversation as individual prompts. They can support expression of feelings and thoughts by allowing the patient to choose cards that reflect their views. A ‘good’ to ‘bad’ scale, where the patient places cards relatively can help aid the discussion. Flashcards can be particularly effective when displaying a series of events as a timeline, with one symbol representing each event in the sequence.

The flashcards in the pack cover all of the vocabulary in the communication book.

At Widgit we welcome the opportunity to work with professionals to develop new materials. This produces credible resources on a specific subject, whilst ensuring the symbol usage and content is appropriate for the audience.

If you want help with accessibility or have an idea for a resources, please contact us.

For design services, email
[email protected]

For copyright permission, email
[email protected]

About this pack

This project was developed by Widgit Software in partnership with Dr Geoff Marston, Consultant Psychiatrist for adults with a learning disability, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, and Dr Irene Cormac, Honorary Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Rampton Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Marston has a special interest in education and improving the physical health care  of people with a learning disability. Dr Cormac has a special interest in the physical health of people with mental disorders. With Dr David Gray, she has co-edited the textbook ‘Essentials of Physical Health in Psychiatry’.