Powys Mental Health Alliance: AGM and Winter Open Day 2013

At the end of November Powys Mental Health Alliance held its Annual General Meeting and Winter Open Day at the Commodore Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. In July I had travelled down to Brecon for the PMHA Summer Open Day to find out how the organisation was doing and this seemed like the ideal opportunity to catch up with activities.

Trustees Bill Fawcett and John Steadman

I was greeted in the hotel foyer by trustee John Steadman from Ystradgynlais alongside a roaring open fire. Days before there had been a christening at the venue and the decorations were still in place – it all looked very cheerful with bunting and colourful paper lanterns.

  

The meeting kicked off with the formal AGM business. Chairman Bryan Douglas-Matthews welcomed all and we were straight into the Directors’ Report for the previous year followed by the finances. Two new trustees were elected to the Board on the day. Louise Evans is a member of Ponthafren Association in North Powys. She has enjoyed taking part in a variety of activities for the past couple of years, and is now keen to take on this new responsibility with PMHA. Bob Short is an adult learning tutor from Newbridge-on-Wye who is also involved with several voluntary groups.

Louise Evans and Bob Short - new trustees

Next up was – Jane Cooke, DIY Futures Project Manager – to speak about the book – “it’s the inside that matters.” It features thirteen stories from people who came into contact with the DIY service since it started in 2009, alongside artwork described as visual poetry. People have responded very favourably to the book so far, as it is promoted with the aim of helping to reduce stigma around mental distress, with groups from Aberystwyth, Ystradgynlais and Llanfair Caereinion expressing interest.

Jane Cooke, DIY Futures Project Manager, and contributor Adam Payne

Free copies of the book are available to organisations and groups which will set up an event which uses the book to start some discussion around stigma. “That could have been my story,” was the refrain I heard again and again as people chatted enthusiastically about the book.

Magazine editor Carla Rosenthal is currently working on the third issue of Headspace, which is due out in early 2014 – the deadline for submitting articles, letters, poems or artwork is 20 December. She said that PMHA is hoping to produce a book of poetry if funds can be sourced – “a huge amount of people love to send poems for the magazine.” There will also be a new poetry page on the website soon.

The art workshop

Workshops followed, with the option of art with Terri Sweeney, bead-making with Christine Brooks, and poetry with Carla. Then we enjoyed a delicious hot lunch, and a chance to catch up with friends and fellow members.

The afternoon session started with speaker Penny Nicholson, who volunteers with the bereavement counselling charity Cruse – “somewhere to turn when someone dies.” Penny said that 10 – 15% of mental health issues are the result of unresolved grief. “I cannot take your grief away. It is a question of learning to manage it.” She compared it to learning to walk with a broken leg – so that you don’t have a limp for the rest of your life. “It is a process of growth. You will flower eventually as a result of the pain and anguish and the pride of the relationship is still there.”

Penny Nicholson, on volunteering with Cruse

The talk was brought to life by Penny’s reference to her own personal experience of bereavement, as she was widowed unexpectedly at a young age with two young children to care for. “I was cut in half and bleeding from one side.” Penny described driving her MGB car with the hood down and screaming as she drove down the A3. This made her feel a lot better – “but Cruse would have been a softer and cheaper option!”

There are about 30 Cruse volunteers providing counselling across the length and breadth of Powys. People self-refer, and others are referred by social services. The sessions are weekly for the first three weeks, then fortnightly, and then once a month. The longest Penny has supported someone is just over a year – it depends on the age of the person and their personality. All in all it was a really interesting talk, with insights into the Cruse service, the nature of grief and how healing takes place.

Diane Millbury & Penny Nicholson

The day was rounded off with a contrasting but equally valuable session – Diane Millbury spoke briefly about the natural healing therapies and techniques which she practices before encouraging us to participate in a relaxing meditation session ourselves. Diane explained that she used to work for the health service, but that the medical model of the NHS did not suit her ethos in life. She learnt instead about meditation techniques which help people find their true potential by taking a holistic approach.

Once we were all chilled out from the meditation, Diane asked us to stand. “If you’re feeling sad (or happy) move your body and it helps.” So we finished with two exercises, The Palm Tree and The Lion. One thing I can guarantee – you can’t help smiling as you turn into a lion… my final photograph of the day sums it up really!

Let us know what you thought it you were there – and if you have suggestions for future activities I’m sure all at PMHA would appreciate feedback too!

Powys Mental Health Alliance Open Day 2013

Last Thursday I made a scenic detour around the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth to attend the Powys Mental Health Alliance (PMHA) Open Day at  Bishop Bevan Hall in a beautiful sunny Brecon. The day was attended by individuals and also staff working for the following organisations - Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Brecon & District Contact Association, Hafal, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (DIY Futures project, Powys Befrienders' project, and me - the Powys Mental Health Information Service), and Ponthafren Association. People had travelled from further afield than me - including some from Welshpool and also Ystradgynlais.

The first session was an update from the PMHA trustees about recent developments within the organisation. A new logo was presented, and Chair Bryan Douglas-Matthews explained that the charity had gone through a radical overhaul of late. The eight trustees running the charity have recently developed a new vision - "We believe the collective voice of individuals has the power to improve the world of mental health." 

Trustee Lee Watmough was joined by magazine editor Carla Rosenthal to talk about the revamp and relaunch of the PMHA magazine - now called Headspace. The first issue (1,000 copies have been circulated throughout Powys, and an online version is available) has been extremely well-received, and plans are now under way for an Autumn issue. The magazine is more colourful, vibrant and light-hearted than the previous incarnation, and Lee said that he hopes it draws together the collective voices of not just individuals, professionals and carers, but everybody - "everyone is touched in some way by mental health or emotional difficulties." Carla encouraged people to submit articles, poems, photographs and artwork - the deadline is 30 August. "We want to give a platform to your voice. We want to let people who create services change the way they offer them by listening to people who use them."

Lee and Carla also explained that a brand new website is currently being developed - it is viewed as an opportunity to talk about mental health issues in Powys and break down stigma - watch this space for the launch date!

Lee then described some of the future projects the charity hopes to focus on, including Powys Patients' Council in the Community, teaching others how to lobby effectively, reaching out to the rural community including farmers, helping people deliver a message through innovative drama and fundraising with a difference. Events featuring inspirational speakers and debating topics such as medication are also part of the proposed mix.

Before lunch, and our chance to sample trustee Diane Hart's amazing artwork, there was also a long discussion about the disparity between mental health services available in the North and South of the county, with a focus on crisis teams. Whilst there was acknowledgement of the important developments in both areas (we have written previously about the Home Treatment Teams in the North and South), it was clear that there are still gaps in provision out-of-hours which need to be addressed.

Following lunch the main speaker of the day, Reverend Dr Melanie Santorini, outlined the Time to Change Wales campaign - "don't be afraid to talk about mental health." The campaign is jointly run by three mental health charities - Gofal, Hafal and Mind Cymru, and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Comic Relief and Welsh Government. So far about 150 Welsh champions have been recruited by the campaign to challenge stigma, perhaps by writing a blog post, or talking to the media, or volunteering at events. Locally there is an event on 3 October in Llandrindod Wells to coincide with World Mental Health week and the aim is to boost the number of champions to 200 by the end of the project.

Melanie also spoke about the importance of talking about mental health with family, friends and colleagues, and politely challenging those who stigmatise people experiencing mental distress. The campaign regularly refers to the 1 in 4 people who supposedly experience a "mental health problem" (we posted about this here). However, it was good to hear challenges from the audience at this event - "it's not 1 in 4 it's everyone!" and Melanie herself referred to people who "think they don't have the experience." She told us a personal story of explaining to someone she knew recently - "I have a mental health diagnosis". The man nearly fell off his chair. He then said - "but you look normal!"

The day was rounded off for me by a question and answer session with two Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) from the Brecon area - Andrew Stephenson (Team Leader) and Dawn Carey. They talked about a variety of issues, including:

• Working alongside the Home Treatment Team in the South to ensure people have a supported transition from hospital to home, and also to reduce admissions.
• Outlining the referral process and distinguishing between Primary Care Services (GPs, nurses and counsellors based at health centres) and Secondary Care Services (CPNs, psychiatrists and support staff in Community Mental Health Teams).
• The impact of the Mental Health Measure on the ability of an individual to self-refer back to a Community Mental Health Team for further treatment.
• The new Care Treatment Plans which were launched in June 2012 and the role of a Care Co-ordinator (nurse, doctor or social worker for example) in developing them with an individual. Paper and electronic copies are available - and Shropdoc can access these via the Home Treatment Team staff as appropriate.
• Out-of-hours support as provided by Shropdoc and possible referral to out-of-county 24 hour assessment units.
• The pros and cons of having three different health boards providing mental health services throughout Powys.
• The involvement of advocacy services to support inpatients at Bronllys Hospital.

I found this session particularly useful as it is a real luxury to have staff providing mental health services in a specific area to be available to fill in the many gaps in our knowledge in such a complex and ever-changing area.

All in all a really interesting and useful day - and I look forward to the next one that PMHA organise! If you were there - tell us what you thought.

The power of photography

Ian Francis lives in North Powys, and was first diagnosed with clinical depression and later bipolar disorder, about 10 years ago. He writes, "I will not lie to you, it has been a hard journey, with laughter, tears and heart ache - you need to keep a good, sometimes twisted sense of humour."

And then he spent £300 on a digital camera, and started to find out more about the power of photography. Ian takes photographs not just of his family and friends, but the landscape in Powys, and describes his experiences of the impact of photography on his mental health vividly: "I love my photography, it released me from my personal hell and helped me along the way. Having met other people with mental health problems, most also have an Unexpected Gift..."

The full article, along with many more photographs, can be seen in this September's edition of the Powys Mental Health Alliance newsletter, which you can read here. (Pages 10 - 11 for Ian's article, "An Unexpected Gift.")

More recently Ian's photography skills have been called on for recording mental health related events in Powys such as the Making a Difference Together day on 16th May 2012. There is also a report on the event in the magazine (centre pages), featuring Ian's photos. And to top it off, he has images on the front and back covers too!

Let us know if you have an Unexpected Gift of your own...