Working with learners with mental health issues
![Image : Photo of woman using a Smartphone](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2019/10/mind.jpg)
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. People with mental health problems are more likely to be digitally excluded.
![Image : messy graphic with text Biggest Issue](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2019/10/biggest-issue.png)
Learner issues are the same
as they are for anyone but
are compounded by anxiety and illness
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Focus on goals
that the learner would like to achieve
![Image: Jigsaw graphic with top tips of what to teach: Health apps; Finding online support; Digital communication; Social media privacy; Online safety; Universal credit](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2019/10/Topics-top-tips-mental-health-1024x726.png)
![Image: Jigsaw graphic with top tips for Digital Champions: Agree goals; Person-centred; Build trust; Use text messages; Go slowly; Be flexible](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2019/10/DC-top-tips-mental-health-1024x673.png)
![Image: Jigsaw graphic of top tips for projects: Person-centred; Integrate digital; Digital for mental health; Private social media groups](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2020/01/a43f28da-mental-health-projects-1024x620.png)
Resources
- Big White Wall – a safe, anonymous online community for mental health support (available in some areas only)
- Woebot – a self-help chatbot for improved mental health and wellbeing
- Brain in hand – on demand support system to reduce anxiety and improve independence, lowering demand on carers and support services
- Post crossing befriending service – A postcard exchange project that invites everyone to send and receive postcards from random places in the world
- Google Street view – can use to show someone places they know if they feel anxious about them
- Various online self-help and mindfulness apps
- Be My Eyes – a free app that connects visually impaired people with sighted volunteers for visual assistance through a live video call
- Digital Unite Technology Guides – hundreds of “how to” guides on various digital topics
- Digital Champions Network – Digital Unite’s unique training and support community for aspiring and experienced Digital Champions
- Learn My Way – free digital courses for learners and tutors
- Reboot UK’s Digital Inclusion cards to help organisations design activities to improve people’s digital skills
Research, Reports and Publications
- How the Richmond Fellowship in County Durham are embedding Digital Champions to develop digital skills of service users with a variety of mental health conditions
- Working with people with mental health issues by National MIND, Buckinghamshire MIND and Richmond Fellowship – presentation from our event about making digital accessible for everyone
- Charities, young people and digital mental health services – paper by Think NPC reviewing current digital mental health provision for young people
- Research, case studies and blog posts from the Reboot UK digital skills programme which focused especially on people affected by homelessness and mental health problems
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/onedigitaluk/2019/08/One-Digital-top-tip-jigsaw-block.png)
Always remember that learners may not be typical of their group and may have multiple additional needs => Look at the other guides for tips and resources
Many thanks to our partners MIND, Buckinghamshire Mind and Richmond Fellowship who contributed to developing the learning on this topic