Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 – a young person’s view from Powys

Children's Mental Health Week 2023, 6 - 12 February, is all about making a difference to the lives of children and young people across the UK. The awareness week is organised and promoted by the charity Place2Be. The theme this year is "Let's Connect." 

Today, as part of our week-long celebration of Children’s Mental Health Week, we are pleased to introduce a young guest author. Ffion is a member of the Junior Start Well Board* in Powys, and writes about her life as a young person here in Mid Wales.

Life is a cage, which constantly suffocates me. The labels have become a cage - student, carer, daughter, sister, anxiety, traumatised, sad, lonely, different. But when I read I am transported, it's like the key to my cage. I feel free. It’s my lifeline, I relate to aspects of characters and their stories so, if even for a moment, I feel less alone. Less Different. I feel valid.

“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren’t all that different.” 

Veronica Roth, Divergent. 

This empowers me. It reassures me that even if I’m not the bravest, I am scared of spiders and I am too scared to stand up for myself, I have to be selfless because of being a Carer. Despite never being put first or me putting myself first, it gives my life meaning and purpose. I feel less alone, more normal. I feel kind, empathetic and selfless - which makes me brave. Less alone. I feel invincible.

“As long as you can find yourself, you’ll never starve.” 

Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games. 

This resonated with me the first time I read it. Then the second. Third. Fourth. And countless other times. Life is miserable. It's a fact of life I have experienced more than some. But in life, there's beauty in doing what you love, and in finding what you love you can find yourself. Being yourself is one of the greatest joys in life, and it gives me joy. It’s how I’ve tried to live my life for the past three years while picking my GCSEs, A Levels and I hope while going to university. It makes me feel mature. Less inferior. I feel wise.

“I told you to hide your heart once. You should have listened.”

Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen.

I've been hurt. More times than I can count. And every time a similar thought goes through my head. Then, I think back to this book and how when Mare opens up her heart to others, she finds her power. That's why I will never stop. I will cry with others, I will love others, and I will trust others with my heart. Closing off my heart would make me cold, unfeeling and I can't imagine life that way. Part of who I am is my empathy, my kindness and my generosity. By reaching out to those around me, I have stronger relationships, and I feel less lonely. I feel loved.

“It’s always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.” 

Kiera Cass, The Selection. 

Part of my anxiety is the constant fear of everything going wrong around people and being laughed at and mocked. I lacked confidence. In high school, it meant that I feared a misstep so I stayed quiet, and didn’t speak out. I felt oppressed by my anxiety and lack of confidence. But when I went into sixth form, instead of a year group of 140 people, it was 20. And the smaller group meant that I became less scared. I gradually built up my confidence and I applied for head girl. In high school, I would never have dreamed of doing anything like that out of fear of failure. But failure is how you grow and learn. I learned to face my fear so I feel less afraid. I feel confident.

The connections I feel to these books, these characters, these storylines have helped me grow as a person. I’ve learned to respect my differences, and they are actually what makes me stronger. I've learned that fear is a tool, and using it will open doors and help me get places. I’ve learned that empathy and kindness isn't a weakness, you have to lose some things to help you find better ones. Life is a cage, which constantly suffocates me. My key was reading, it has helped me deal with the pressure and changed my life for the better.

*Junior Start Well Board is a group of young people aged 11 – 17 years of age who meet every month to talk about the issues affecting young people. The purpose of the group is to listen to the views and the opinions of their peers and provide a voice for young people in Powys, so that they can feedback and contribute to decisions that affect them. Based on these conversations, they ask to meet with the services in Powys who are best placed to listen and respond or look at setting up any new projects in response to need.

If you would like more information on how to join please contact sharon.titley@powys.gov.uk

Find out more about SilverCloud online resources for children, young people and supportive adults.

Reading Well for teens suggests recommended reading and digital resources to help you understand your feelings and boost your confidence.

Photos from unSplash - Anna Meshkov, Gaelle Marcel, Kimberley Farmer, 

Sincerely Media & Olga Tutunaru.

Reading your way to recovery

 

By guest author Janet Mulready
Health & Well-being Librarian, Powys

My work as a Branch Librarian in the early 1980s confirmed my philosophy that libraries can and should be central in offering support to the more vulnerable members of our communities. Libraries offer a safe and welcoming environment, and to paraphrase the author Matt Haig – whose books often reflect his own experiences of dealing with mental health issues – where else can you spend time where you are welcomed as an individual, with no mention of the contents of your wallet?

Janet Mulready, Health & Well-being Librarian in Powys

After more than two decades as a primary teacher, I was delighted to return to my library roots and I was very excited to be seconded recently as Health and Well-being Librarian for Powys. The role is funded thanks to the Welsh Government's Integrated Care Fund, through the Age Well Partnership in Powys; it is part of the project which is focused on scoping and development of community hubs, for these will be a source of early interventions to improve access to health-related information and advice. ​Being appointed to such a stimulating job in my 60s certainly shows that you can age well in Powys!

My job is excitingly diverse and has already involved building strong working relationships with other organisations seeking to improve well-being within the community. The provision of services to people living with dementia and their carers is important to Powys Libraries, and the development and dissemination of resources to support this is a significant part of my role. I am currently working closely with museum staff and library colleagues to devise a system of lending memory boxes and reminiscence hampers to care homes. We also supply resources from the dementia charity Playlist for Life via the collection service at branches to those who request them.

Another important role is to promote the Reading Well scheme (Darllen yn Well). The Reading Agency and Welsh Government have provided Reading Well resources in both Welsh and English, to support living with dementia, adult mental health and children’s mental health. All titles are recommended by health professionals and people with experience of the conditions covered.

I work with a colleague in disseminating this important service, which is linked to public libraries’ ever-expanding work around community health and well-being. The books can be referred via a Book Prescription, and are also available for self-referral via the Powys library catalogue, for collection from the local branch; some are also available as e-books or audio books. The system supports a self-management model, to encourage patients to take an active role in the decisions made around their health and well-being.

The Reading Well for mental health collection provides general information on mental health and well-being, and offers condition-specific titles, support for those difficult experiences which affect us all, such as bereavement and loss, and personal stories. To ensure the collection is accessible to a wide range of audiences, it includes a range of different formats and reading levels. Topics include therapies and approaches, common feelings and experiences, self-help books to support mental health and personal stories. The scheme supports living well and self-care and self-management models. As a community intervention, it also allows for public services to work together to support the health and well-being of their communities.

As well as signposting to sources of professional help and support, it recommends other well-being activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities. And of course, libraries are a vital source for the comfort of fiction. To quote Matt Haig again, “There is something about absorbing yourself in a story that can make you feel comforted. One thing about depression is that it is plotless, there is no shape. Stories have shape – and books became my antidepressants.”

A further remit I have is to help library staff to become confident with services that are available in Powys to support residents, so I prepare and disseminate regular ”How to Help with …” resources. The pandemic has meant that part of my work focus is working with colleagues to develop digital access to supportive services. We have initiated an “Ask a Librarian” enquiry service via the website and the loan of blood pressure monitors; many people are concerned about the physical health effects of lockdown and a more sedentary lifestyle due to home working, yet are understandably reluctant to “bother” a health professional, so they can borrow a blood monitor for free and have it delivered to their local branch for them to collect. As lockdown eases, we are looking to provide rooms in selected branches for individuals to have privacy for online medical consultations.

The importance of digital services and new means of communicating has become important for all of us, so my role also involves supporting colleagues in providing health and well-being information and services digitally. A large number of people are experiencing anxiety due to the restrictions on social interaction, and so we are working on producing well-being videos and resources such as adult literature hours, to play a part in reducing isolation.

A typical working day for me at the moment can involve giving a zoom talk on the Reading Well Scheme, applying for funding for well-being projects, making a video, and writing a Help sheet. Every day brings something new and involves me collaborating with some inspiring, committed people. I have a wonderful job and I am very grateful to have the opportunity, in a small way, to make a positive difference to people!

Many thanks to Janet for telling us about her new role as Health & Well-being Librarian for Powys. 

Find out more about the Powys library services on the English & Welsh websites below:

Powys Libraries' Services

Llyfrygelloedd Powys

If you have any queries then please drop them in the comments section below. Alternatively you can contact Janet directly by emailing: janet.mulready@powys.gov.uk or ringing: 01639 845353.