It is important to keep information about your health and details of people who help you with your health care, such as doctors, dentists and opticians.
You may have already been given a personal health book. If not you could download and use a personal health template (pdf) to keep this information.
Exercise
Download an easy read guide on staying fit and healthy (pdf)
On the Get Yourself Active website site you will find information, resources and links to help you and those around you get active. You can see how others are getting active using personal budgets or by finding the right links in their local community.
You can also find information on local Barnet activities on the Things to Do page.
Diet
Eating too much, too little or too many unhealthy foods (fatty or sugary foods) can be bad for your health and increase the chance of becoming ill.
Download an easy read guide on helping you choose healthy eating options (pdf).
For information on good foods, how much you should weigh and understanding food labels, visit the NHS Choices healthy eating website.
Visit the Easy health website for easy-read leaflets on staying healthy.
Mental health
Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people every year and no one should feel ashamed. Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time and may be overcome with treatment, however children and young people with SEND can be more likely to experience poor mental health.
More information on mental health problems for children and young people with SEND can be found on the Mencap website.
You can learn more about getting help here.
There are a lot of resources available which you can use to access support and advice:
Time to Change is a growing social movement working to change the way we all think and act about mental health problems.
Mind UK provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Rethink Mental Illness provides support, advice and campaigns for better support for people experiencing mental health problems.
The Mental Health Foundation have produced a guide for children and young people, It has some advice on how to keep yourself mentally healthy. Staying mentally healthy is just as important as staying physically healthy.
You can also find lots of information if you are worried about how to help someone you know.
We have provided links to easy read guides on some key mental health topics:
Download an easy read guide on anxiety
Download an easy read guide on depression
Download an easy read guide on dealing with stress
Annual health check
Download an easy read guide on learning disability annual health checks.
If you have SEND it is important to get your health checked at least once a year (this is called annually), otherwise you might miss the early signs of some illnesses.
You can ask your General Practitioner (GP) or doctor if you can have an annual health check.