Keeping safe and well can be more difficult for neurodivergent people. Sometimes it is more difficult to understand people's intentions or risky behaviours might put people in situations that are dangerous. 

Here we have pulled together some resources and web pages which may help. 

The health and care passport is designed to be a quick and easy way to give health and social care professionals more information about you to help them provide right care and treatment.

The links below explain what they are for and how to complete one.

NHS England -  Health and care passport 

NHS England - health and care passport (easy read)

You can download a template for the NHS health and care passport. This is a Word document.

Neurodivergent people can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.  It can seem difficult to recognise or get out of difficult situations but there is support and advice available.  

 

Feeling Safe: getting away from unsafe situations

If you think you or someone you know is in immediate danger, the best thing to do is call 999 and ask for Kent Police.

If you feel unable to do this and you need help to get away from a person, you can make a ‘silent 999’ call. Call 999, Listen to the operator's questions, If prompted, press 55 or tap your device to indicate it's a genuine emergency. The call handler will ask yes or no questions to assess your situation. Do not hang up. Your mobile will be traced. 

Most mobile phones allow you to set emergency SOS settings that when active will contact the emergency services automatically or share vital details with any emergency contacts you have set up. 

 

Cuckooing 

Is a type of criminal exploitation where a person or group, often involved in drug dealing or other illegal activities, take over someone’s else’s home. The perpetrators befriend and manipulate often offering help and gifts and over time they start to pressure threaten and take over. Neurodivergent people particularly anyone that is isolated, seeking connections and friendship  can become susceptible to being taken advantage of by people or groups that show interest in them.  Adult Abuse and What to Do About It has advice about keeping yourself or a loved one safe from all kinds of abuse including cuckooing. Watch a video about one person's experience of cuckooing or this one about how to recognise and manage a situation where someone may be trying to get access to your home.

 

 

Stop! Think Fraud gives advice about how to protect yourself, secure your personal and financial information from online scammers, phone, postal and door step fraud.

The Cyber Helpline Free, expert help for victims of cybercrime, hacking, digital fraud and online harms such as bullying and harassment. Including:

Online Radicalisation

People who spend a lot of time online to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, stress, anxiety or rejection are popular targets for online extremists and hate groups. These individuals target neurodivergent people on social media and internet, and gaming forums and befriend them. Radicalisation on the internet has resources, support, advice and guidance on how to spot the signs and how to access help if you're worried about yourself or someone our know.

Any form of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel, uncomfortable, scared, humiliated or intimidated or creates a hostile environment is sexual harassment. The victim support website has helpful advice and resources.  

If something sexual happened to you without your consent or you’re not sure Rape Crisis England & Wales has lots of information and support that can help.

If you are a man or non-binary person affected by sexual violence, Survivors UK can help.  

 

People with learning disabilities or autism are more likely to suffer from domestic violence and abuse than other people and are less likely to report it when they do.

There are many forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and it can be really hard to spot when this is creating a problem in a relationship. Not being able to understand social ‘rules’ for relationships and less ability to recognise good and bad behaviour can lead to bad relationships. Often it is relying on others to help them with everyday tasks, which can make it harder for someone with a learning disability to leave an abusive relationship.

Coercive control is common in people who are neurodivergent. This is an ‘act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim’.

Behaviour is abusive if it consists of:

  • physical or sexual abuse
  • violent or threatening behaviour
  • controlling or coercive behaviour
  • financial or economic control 
  • psychological, emotional or other abuse
  • stalking
  • online or digital abuse.

It is important to remember that abuse does not always take the form of violence. It can happen in family or romantic relationships. It is wrong, and there are services available to support you.

Domestic Support Services in Kent provides information about local support for domestic abuse.  The Kent and Medway Referral Pathway gives you more information about domestic abuse, support services and tools to keep you safer.

 

There are several local helplines available for victims of domestic abuse including:

 

There are also national helplines available for victims of domestic abuse including:

Neurodivergent people may face a variety of struggles with food. Food sensitivities and sensory processing issues can cause mealtimes to be difficult. 

ADHD can lead to eating issues including bulimia or overating, the eating disorder hope website has some more information. 

PEACE Pathway gives information and resources for autistic people with an eating disorder and autism, and carers or clinicians supporting the recovery journey.

ARFID Awareness UK Information and research for individuals, carers, and professionals about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

Beat Eating disorders is a registered charity that run a national eating disorder helpline and webchat service, their website has details of these services, information and resources and moderated chat rooms and links to reputable sources of support. 

The Mind website is a useful source of information if you want to find out what an eating disorder is, and learn more about common eating disorders, such as bulimia, anorexia and binge eating.

Autistic burnout is a state of extreme exhaustion that impacts physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. It is specifically triggered by chronic stress and sensory overload unique to the autistic experience.

Learning to recognise and manage the causes and symptoms is important for early intervention and effective management.

Effective strategies for managing and preventing autistic burnout include self-care routines and seeking support. The guides and information below contain helpful information, advice and resources.

Emotional Regulation Strategies for Autistic Adults  

The Autistic Burnout Recovery Workbook © 2023

Autistic Burnout Recovery: How to Build a Recovery Plan - Neurodivergent Insights

ADHD burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by the constant stress and challenges associated with managing ADHD symptoms. It occurs when people with ADHD feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities and struggle to cope with the demands of daily life. 

Learning to recognise the signs of ADHD burnout and understanding the triggers and causes are important for developing coping strategies, effective management and preventing the impact of chronic stress. The guides and information below contain helpful information, advice and resources.

ADHD Burnout: Cycle, Symptoms, and Causes - ADDA - Attention Deficit Disorder Association

ADHD Burnout: Symptoms, Causes, and Recovery Tips | Psych Central

Mental health support

Need help now? Do you feel suicidal or feel like self-harming? Find crisis support options here.

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