World Mental Health Day 2023 - mental health is a universal human right

What is World Mental Health Day?

The World Federation for Mental Health was founded in 1948 in the same era as the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This year, along with the NHS, it celebrates its 75th birthday.

1992 saw the first World Mental Health Day, so this year’s awareness day on 10 October is the 32nd, with a theme of “mental health is a universal human right.”

The WFMH asks us to: “Join us in this journey as we unite to raise awareness about the importance of mental health as an indispensable universal human right, with the vision of fostering a world that values and nurtures the well-being of all.”

Mental health is a universal human right

“Mental health must be squarely placed in a human rights framework to re-cast the aspiration for sound mental health as a fundamental human right. Ensuring access to mental health services must be an obligation and responsibility of state and global organisations which can no longer be ignored. Access to better living conditions, security, food, shelter and housing are all necessary for people's mental health. Mental health is a universal right to all citizens of the world and consistent with the 1948 founding principles of the World Federation for Mental Health.” Nassa Lozer, President, WFMH

Investment and transformation in mental health is needed to help stop the widespread human rights violations that people with mental health conditions continue to experience worldwide.

How rights to mental health can be respected

The World Federation for Mental Health believes that everyone, wherever they live, should receive appropriate and quality care if they are experiencing mental health distress (issues, problems, difficulties or struggles, call them what you will).

This includes the right to be protected from “known harms to mental health”, which would surely cover poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, adverse childhood experiences and any of the other social determinants of good mental health.

It also includes the right to freedom, “including the right of choice.”

More about human rights

1948 also saw the United Nations launch of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights aimed at all peoples and nations, setting out as it does fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

The United Nations is an international organisation made up of 193 member states:

“One place where the world's nations can gather together, discuss common problems and find shared solutions”.

What is rights-based support?

Three years ago there was an important report to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on a topic high on everyone’s agenda:

“The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”

The focus of the report was to set a “rights-based” global agenda for advancing the right to mental health.

In this 2020 United Nations report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur addresses the need for a global agenda for mental health that is human rights-based. (Special rapporteurs are independent human rights experts whose expertise is called upon by the United Nations to report or advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective). 

In this case the Special Rapporteur was Mr. Dainius Pūras from Lithuania,"a medical doctor and human rights advocate who has been actively involved during the last 30 years in the process of transforming public health policies and services, with special focus on the rights of children, persons with mental disabilities, and other groups in vulnerable situations.”

The report identifies that while many people understand their mental health challenges through a medical lens, many do not. It makes sense, then, that it is crucial to build space for “a diversity of creative approaches and experiences within and outside existing mental health systems.”

Some of the creative approaches which are referred to in the report include: “highly localised innovations in different resource settings around the world, such as Soteria House, Open Dialogue, peer-respite centres, medication-free wards, recovery communities and community development models”. Topics we have been covering on the Powys Mental Health blog for over 10 years now.

Examples from the blog:

Challenging the medical model of mental health distress

World Mental Health Day 2022 - make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority

As the report suggests: “A quiet revolution has been occurring in neighbourhoods and communities worldwide. At the root of these alternatives is a deep commitment to human rights, dignity and non-coercive practices, all of which remain an elusive challenge in traditional mental health systems too heavily reliant on a biomedical paradigm”.

The report suggests that rather than describing such approaches as “alternatives”, which means they are more likely to be ignored because they are outside the mainstream, that they are called “rights-based supports.”

Key principles of rights-based support

• Dignity and autonomy.
• Social inclusion.
• Participation.
• Equality and non-discrimination.
• Diversity of care.
• Underlying social and psychosocial determinants of mental health.

Reading the report it becomes clear that the responsibility for good mental health does not just lie with individuals and their health providers, but with policy-makers - governments and statutory authorities. And not just policy-making in relation to health but policies affecting all areas of our lives that have a massive impact on our health.

We need to promote healthy, resilient communities where everyone feels supported and able to live a good life, not just the few with the most wealth. And promotion can take place not just in health settings but in all areas of our day-to-day lives - workplaces, schools, homes and communities.

Action we can take

The report goes on to say:

“Movements of service users, of persons with psychosocial disabilities, of mad people, of people who hear voices, who are rights holders in all their diversity, must be at the forefront of efforts for rights-based change. Scaling up rights-based support within and outside existing mental health systems holds much promise for the changes that are needed.”

In one of 7 recommendations to member States the report recommends that they:

“Promote mental health by increasing financial support to sustainable, cross-cutting programmes that reduce poverty, inequalities, discrimination on all grounds and violence in all settings, so that the main determinants of mental health are effectively addressed.”

It all sounds very similar to the recommendations at the recent Bevan Commission conference which we attended: The Tipping Point - where next for health and care in Wales?

Steps in the right direction

I recently found out about the Welsh Health Equity Solutions platform. The platform has been designed as a resource to find data and solutions relating to health equity - “a gateway to data, evidence, health economics and modelling, policies, good practice, innovative tools and practical solutions to help improve population wellbeing and reduce the health equity gap in Wales and beyond.”

It is a partnership project of Public Health Wales, Welsh Government and the World Health Organisation. The platform is based around five essential conditions for healthy and prosperous lives for all. There are also opportunities for people to get involved in co-producing solutions, developing case studies and contributing to learning on solutions-focused action to reduce health inequities. It sounds like a really interesting initiative.

And finally

Alongside changes in policy and support, we need to look at how we provide care to people around their mental health. It’s not about asking what is “wrong” with someone, but what has “happened” to them. Until we reframe the questions, how can we start to work with someone to help find relevant solutions…?

What do you think about mental health as a universal human right? Let us know in the comments below.

World Mental Health Day 2022 – Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority

This year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on Monday 10 October. 

The World Federation for Mental Health is the driver behind this important awareness day.

“World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness in the global community about the critical mental health agendas – with a unifying voice through collaboration with various partners – to take action and to create lasting change through the messages we promote.”

The theme this year is “Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority”.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fuelling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened."   

World Health Organisation

What can we learn from the rest of the world about good mental health services?

Open Dialogue in Finland

The name Open Dialogue was first used in 1995 to describe two key features of the approach: the use of open family / network meetings and a set of principles for organising the whole psychiatric system that made dialogue possible.

The Open Dialogue approach was originally developed in Western Lapland in Finland by Jaakko Seikkula and colleagues. They wanted to create a crisis service in which families and mental health services worked closely with the person experiencing the crisis and generate better outcomes for patients experiencing psychosis than those resulting from use of antipsychotic medication.

According to the Open Dialogue UK website: “If the family / team can bear the extreme emotion in a crisis situation, and tolerate the uncertainty, in time shared meaning usually emerges and healing / recovery is possible.”

The results of this approach are clear from the statistics – about 75% of those who experienced psychosis return to work or study within 2 years and only about 20% are still taking antipsychotic medication at 2 year follow-up.

As American journalist Robert Whitaker concluded in his book Anatomy of an Epidemic: “Western Lapland in Finland has adopted a form of care for its psychotic patients that has produced astonishingly good long-term outcomes.”

Read more here.

The Italian Trieste mental health model inspired by Franco Basaglia

The mental healthcare model in the port of Trieste, in north east Italy, is based on the theories of the reforming psychiatrist Franco Basaglia. Franco believed that psychiatry in large institutions unfairly ostracised people with mental problems and the area has seen a radical switch to community based care over the years. It is often called a “whole system – whole community” approach.

Basaglia died prematurely in 1980, but his team continued to develop and support his innovative approach to mental health care over the next three decades. The approach includes looking at the whole person and also their social background when considering what support someone needs.

“Historically, Trieste pioneered the shift from relationships based on domination / control to the therapeutic relationship seen as reciprocal, based on rediscovering the whole person.” Roberto Mezzino, MD

“While it is not without controversy, supporters of the Trieste system in Italy and around the world say that it is more humane, more effective, and even economically more viable.”

Political upheavals in recent years have reportedly put the approach at risk and people have organised petitions as recently as 2021 to try and protect the Trieste model.

Read more here.

Norway medication free mental health services

In 2016 regional health authorities in Norway were instructed by health minister Bent Hoie to provide medication-free treatment wards as an option for mental health patients. This followed years of forced treatment and forced isolation in mental health facilities. For some time, there had been considerable debate in Norway about the effectiveness and adverse effects of using antipsychotic medication, and individuals had long campaigned for change. While medication-free treatment is available in some other countries, Norway became the first country in the world to embed it as an option in the state-run mental healthcare system.

Dr Magnus Hald took on the job of running the new drug-free hospital in Tronsko in North Norway. "The idea of evidence-based medicine is difficult within mental health as a whole, although it's of course an aim that we should have. At the same time, we know that diagnoses in psychiatry are just a classification system. Even though you give a person a diagnosis of schizophrenia, you do not see any malfunction in the brain besides what you experience by engaging in a conversation with the person. You cannot see anything on the CT or the MRI images."

Whilst the debate continues in Norway about the pros and cons of medication free treatment, there is more patient choice now and according to research greatly improved trust between people seeking support and their therapists which can result in better outcomes.

Read more here.

Making mental health a priority in Wales – what’s happening now

Young people and mental health

Mental health and wellbeing will be one of the main focuses of the Welsh Youth Parliament over the next two years as the parliament stands up for the issues that matter most to young people in Wales.

Together for Mental Health

Together for Mental Health is a cross-government strategy setting out Welsh Government’s goals for improving mental health and mental health services in Wales. It is the first Mental Health Strategy that covers all ages; children and young people, adults of working age and older people.

This strategy is currently being evaluated nationally, and a new updated strategy will then be produced.

A Powys priority

Until such time as the new Together for Mental Health National Strategy is produced, Powys will continue to drive on its stated priorities. These priorities are identified in this document – T4MH Priorities.

Mental Health is also one of the Big Four health issues facing the county as identified in the Powys Health & Care Strategy. Powys Teaching Health Board says: “We will develop effective services to treat and support people suffering from the four main causes of ill health and premature mortality in Powys (which includes mental health problems).”

If you know of an interesting mental health initiative or approach from somewhere around the globe, we’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send us an email at mentalhealth@pavo.org.uk

Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd 2021 | World Mental Health Day 2021

Iechyd Meddwl mewn Byd Anghyfartal 

Eleni byddwn yn dathlu Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd ar ddydd Sul, 10fed Hydref. Y sefydliad tu ôl i’r diwrnod ymwybyddiaeth pwysig hwn yw’r Ffederasiwn Byd-eang Iechyd Meddwl.

“Nod Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd yw codi ymwybyddiaeth ar draws y byd am agendâu hollbwysig ym maes iechyd meddwl - gan uno lleisiau trwy gydweithio gyda phartneriaid amrywiol - i weithredu ac i greu newid parhaol trwy’r negeseuon a hyrwyddir.”

Y thema eleni yw “Iechyd Meddwl mewn Byd Anghyfartal.”

Anghyfartaledd yw’r gwahaniaeth mewn statws cymdeithasol, cyfoeth neu gyfleoedd rhwng pobl neu grwpiau.

Mental Health in an Unequal World

This year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October. The World Federation for Mental Health is the driver behind this important awareness day.

“World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness in the global community about the critical mental health agendas – with a unifying voice through collaboration with various partners – to take action and to create lasting change through the messages we promote.”

The theme this year is “Mental Health in an Unequal World.”

Inequality is the difference in social status, wealth or opportunity between people or groups.

Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd 2021

"Mae’r byd yn fwyfwy polareiddiedig gydag unigolion cyfoethog iawn yn dod yn fwy cyfoethog, a nifer y bobl sy’n byw mewn tlodi yn llawer rhy uchel o hyd. Daeth anghydraddoldebau oherwydd hil ac ethnigrwydd, tueddfryd rhywiol a hunaniaeth rhyw yn llawer mwy amlwg yn 2020, a’r diffyg parch tuag at hawliau dynol mewn nifer o wledydd, gan gynnwys i bobl sy’n byw gyda chyflyrau iechyd meddwl. Mae’r anghydraddoldebau hyn yn cael effaith ar iechyd meddwl pobl.

Rydym yn awyddus i gefnogi cymdeithas sifil i chwarae rhan weithgar wrth fynd i’r afael ag anghyfartaledd mewn ardaloedd lleol. Rydym eisiau annog ymchwilwyr i rannu’r wybodaeth sydd ganddynt am anghyfartaledd iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys syniadau ymarferol o ran sut i fynd i’r afael â hyn."
Ffederasiwn Byd-eang Iechyd Meddwl

World Mental Health Day 2021

"The world is increasingly polarized, with the very wealthy becoming wealthier, and the number of people living in poverty still far too high. 2020 highlighted inequalities due to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and the lack of respect for human rights in many countries, including for people living with mental health conditions. Such inequalities have an impact on people’s mental health.

We want to support civil societies to play an active role in tackling inequality in their local areas. We want to encourage researchers to share what they know about mental health inequality including practical ideas about how to tackle this."
World Federation for Mental Health

Cydraddoldeb ym Mhowys

Ym Mhowys - yn debyg i rannau eraill o Gymru - mae gwasanaethau cymorth o bob math ar gael i gefnogi pobl sy’n ceisio ymdopi yn ystod cyfnod o galedi ariannol megis banciau bwyd a chynlluniau tlodi tanwydd. Mae’r gwasanaethau’n cael eu defnyddio’n rheolaidd sy’n awgrymu bod pobl yn cael trafferthion go iawn, eu bod yn parhau a’i fod yn anodd eu goresgyn.

Hwyrach y bydd pobl sydd â nodweddion gwarchodedig (oedran, anabledd, ailbennu rhywedd, beichiogrwydd a mamolaeth, hil, crefydd neu gredoau, rhyw, tueddfryd rhywiol, priodas a phartneriaeth sifil - mewn perthynas â chael eu trin yn wahanol yn eu gwaith) yn profi gwarthnod, bwlio a hyd yn oed dioddef o drosedd casineb unrhyw adeg yn eu bywyd oherwydd pwy ydynt yn syml iawn.

Gall yr holl ffactorau hyn olygu bod pobl dan anfantais, yn ymarferol ac yn gorfforol, a hefyd ar lefel seicolegol, ac mae’n bur debyg eu bod yn fwy tebygol o gael trafferth ymdopi ag iechyd meddwl na phobl nad yw’r heriau hyn yn effeithio arnynt yn ddyddiol.

Gofynnodd astudiaeth a gynhaliwyd gan Fwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys yn 2018 i helpu eu hysbysu mewn perthynas â’r strategaeth cydraddoldeb newydd, i ymatebwyr nodi pa grwpiau o bobl oedd ar y cyfan yn cael y profiadau iechyd gwaethaf. Y tri uchaf oedd: pobl anabl, pobl hŷn a phobl drawsrywiol.

Wrth ofyn pa bobl oedd yn cael y profiad gwaethaf o ran dylanwadu ar benderfyniadau, y tri uchaf oedd: pobl anabl, pobl dduon ac o leiafrifoedd ethnig, a phlant a phobl ifanc.

Cynllun Cydraddoldeb Strategol Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys 2020 – 2024 “Tegwch a Chydraddoldeb i Bawb”

Equalities in Powys

In Powys – as in all parts of Wales - there are all kinds of support services for people struggling through financial hardship such as foodbanks and fuel poverty schemes. The services are well used, which suggests that the struggles are real, continuing and hard to overcome.

People with protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership - in relation to being treated differently at work) may experience stigma, bullying and even be the victims of hate crime at any stage of their life just because of who they are.

All of these factors can mean that people are disadvantaged, both practically and physically, and also psychologically, and probably much more likely to struggle with their mental health than people who don’t face such challenges on a daily basis.

A study carried out by Powys Teaching Health Board in 2018 to help inform their new equality strategy asked respondents which groups of people generally had the worst experiences of health. The top three were disabled people, older people and transgender people.

When asked which people had the worst experience of influencing decisions, the top three were disabled people, black and minority ethnic people and children & young people.

Powys Teaching Health Board Strategic Equality Plan 2020 – 2024 “Fairness & Equality for All”

Mae poblogaeth Powys yn fwy amrywiol nag y byddem yn meddwl ar yr olwg gyntaf. Mae cynllun cydraddoldeb y bwrdd iechyd yn disgrifio rhai ystadegau am breswylwyr, sydd:

“Yn caniatáu ichi werthfawrogi amrywiaeth ein poblogaeth a’r angen i drin ein gilydd mewn ffordd urddasol a pharchus. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn sicrhau y caiff grwpiau ymylol neu grwpiau pobl nas clywir eu barn yn aml eu cynnwys a bod ganddynt fynediad at wasanaethau.”

Gweler isod ychydig o enghreifftiau o’r ystadegau a ddyfynnwyd:

• Ar gyfer pob 100 o bobl sy’n byw ym Mhowys, bydd 5-7 o bobl yn lesbiaidd, hoyw neu ddeurywiol.
• Dywedodd 19% o ddinasyddion eu bod yn gallu siarad Cymraeg yn 2011.
• Daw 130,827 (98%) o bobl o gefndir gwyn, ac mae 2,149 (2%) yn dod o gefndir nad yw’n wyn.
• Mae 41.6% o 59,215 o gartrefi’n ennill llai na £20,000 y flwyddyn.
• Yn ôl 8% o boblogaeth Powys maent yn derbyn triniaeth ar gyfer iselder neu bryder, a hwn yw un o’r tri phrif achos o anabledd.

Yn gynharach eleni, ysgrifennodd Diverse Cymru, yr elusen cydraddoldeb yng Nghymru, am y cydraddoldeb y mae pobl BAME (Duon ac o Leiafrifoedd Ethnig) yn eu hwynebu yng Nghymru mewn perthynas ag iechyd meddwl gan gynnwys “diffyg difrifol o ran therapïau siarad, h.y.: cwnsela ar gyfer pobl BAME nad yw Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf iddynt.”

A hyd yn oed ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ôl yn ôl Mind, yr elusen iechyd meddwl bu’n rhaid i bobl yng Nghymru aros yn hirach ar gyfer gwasanaeth cwnsela trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg o’i gymharu â’r Saesneg.

The population of Powys is more diverse than we might think at first glance. The health board’s equality plan describes some stats about residents, which:

“Allows one to appreciate the diversity of our population and the need to treat one another with dignity and respect. It is important that we ensure that marginalised or seldom heard groups of people are involved and have access to services.”

Here are just a few examples from the stats they list:

• For every 100 people living within Powys, 5-7 people would be lesbian, gay or bisexual.
• 19% of citizens said they could speak Welsh in 2011.
• 130,827 (98%) people are from a white background and 2,149 (2%) from a non-white background.
• 41.6% of 59,215 households earn less than £20,000 per year.
• 8% of the Powys population report being treated for depression or anxiety and it is one of the top three leading causes of disability.

Earlier this year Diverse Cymru, the equalities charity in Wales, wrote about the inequalities faced by BAME (Black & Minority Ethnic) people in Wales in relation to mental health, including the “severe lack of talking therapies, ie: counselling for BAME people whose first language is not English.”

And even just a few years ago the mental health charity Mind reported that people in Wales had to wait longer for counselling in Welsh than in English.

Mynd i’r afael â chydraddoldeb i wella Iechyd Meddwl

"Mae anghydraddoldeb cymdeithasol ym mhob man: tlodi a straen ariannol, hiliaeth, rhagfarn ar sail rhyw, bwlio a seilir ar dueddfryd rhywiol, digartrefedd ac allgáu cymdeithasol oherwydd anabledd neu oedran, i enwi dim ond rhai. Ond yn aml iawn, bydd trafodaethau ynghylch achosion problemau iechyd meddwl yn canolbwyntio ar ffactorau unigol. Anaml iawn y bydd trafodaeth gyhoeddus yn cydnabod fod amgylchiadau ein genedigaeth, ein magwraeth a lle rydym yn byw yn cael effaith sylweddol ar ein cyfleoedd i gael iechyd meddwl da."

Adroddiad y Sefydliad Iechyd Meddwl 2020 – Mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb cymdeithasol er mwyn lleihau problemau iechyd meddwl (Sut gall pawb ffynnu ar lefel gyfartal).

Mae adroddiad y Sefydliad Iechyd Meddwl yn fanwl iawn, ac mae’n werth ei ddarllen er mwyn dysgu mwy am:

• Natur a maint anghydraddoldeb iechyd meddwl.
• Mapio anghydraddoldeb sy’n cael dylanwad ar iechyd meddwl, e.e.: economaidd, addysg, statws diwylliannol / grŵp cymdeithasol, profiadau niweidiol mewn plentyndod, iechyd / anabledd a heneiddio, a dylanwad ecolegol megis digartrefedd.
• Mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb economaidd-gymdeithasol er mwyn gwella iechyd meddwl.

Un o obeithion penodol y Sefydliad yw “dangos atebion effeithiol, meintiol sy’n lleihau effaith anfantais ac sy’n magu gwydnwch ymhlith pobl sydd wedi profi anghydraddoldeb”. Yn ein cymunedau lleol ni, gall rhai o’r rhain gynnwys tai fforddiadwy, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sy’n deall trawma, a mwy o gyfranogiad cymunedol. Ac ar lefel genedlaethol mae’r sefydliad yn galw am gymorth incwm nad yw’n seiliedig ar brawf modd, dylunio mewn ‘mannau gwyrdd-glas’ (e.e.: parciau, coed ar strydoedd a phyllau) a rheoleiddio marchnata ar gyfer diwydiannau niweidiol, er enghraifft.

Tackling inequalities to improve mental health

"Social inequalities are all around us: poverty and financial strain, racism, sexism, bullying based on sexual orientation, homelessness, and social exclusion due to disability or age, to name just a handful. Yet discussion on the causes of mental health problems often focusses on individual factors. Rarely does public discourse acknowledge that the circumstances in which we are born, raised and live profoundly affect our chances of having good mental health."

Mental Health Foundation 2020 report – Tackling social inequalities to reduce mental health problems (How everyone can flourish equally).

The Mental Health Foundation report is extremely detailed and well worth the longer read to find out more about:

• The nature & extent of mental health inequalities.
• Mapping inequalities that influence mental health, eg: economic, education, cultural / social group status, adverse childhood experiences, health / disability & ageing, and ecological influences such as homelessness.
• Tackling socioeconomic inequalities to improve mental health.

The Foundation particularly hopes “to demonstrate effective, scalable solutions that minimise the effects of disadvantage and foster resilience in people with experience of inequality”. Within our local communities some of these could include affordable housing, trauma informed public services, and increased community participation. Whilst at a national level the Foundation calls for non means-tested income supports, designing in ‘green-blue space’ (eg: parks, street trees and ponds) and regulation on marketing for harmful industries, for example.

Mae’n bwysig i bob un ohonom ym Mhowys fyw a gweithio mewn ffordd sy’n parchu pawb. Ond nid yn unig hyn, ond mewn ffordd sy’n caniatáu adnabod a herio anghydraddoldeb. Mae angen inni gychwyn mwy o sgyrsiau ynghylch anghydraddoldeb ym mhob agwedd ar fywyd, ond mewn perthynas ag iechyd meddwl, mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ar y problemau sy’n parhau i arwain at fynediad anghyfartal at wasanaethau a chymorth i bobl.

Gall mwy o gydweithio fod yn fuddiol o ran y cymorth yma - yn enwedig rhwng y sefydliadau gwahanol sy’n cynnig gofal ym maes iechyd a gofal cysylltiedig. Hefyd mae’n bwysig clywed yn amlach lleisiau’r sawl sy’n profi anghydraddoldeb - ac estyn gwahoddiad i’r sawl sy’n fodlon rhannu eu profiadau i gyfrannu wrth ddylunio gwasanaethau iechyd gwell ar gyfer y dyfodol er mwyn bodloni eu hanghenion. Byddai’n braf clywed gan unrhyw un sydd am gyfrannu at lywio gwasanaethau’r dyfodol. Gellir dysgu mwy trwy’r tudalennau Cyfrannu ar ein gwefan a/neu drwy gysylltu â’r Swyddog Cyfranogiad Iechyd Meddwl - Owen Griffkin trwy e-bostio: owen.griffkin@pavo.org.uk

Mae thema Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd eleni - “Iechyd Meddwl mewn Byd Anghyfartal” - yn enfawr. Mae’n haeddu cant o bostiadau blog! Gofynnir ichi ddarllen y dogfennau hirach trwy’r dolenni uchod er mwyn deall yn well yr hyn y gall llywodraethau, cymunedau ac unigolion ei wireddu, trwy gydweithio, sy’n fodlon hybu mwy o newid er mwyn datrys yr anghydraddoldebau cyfredol, sydd, er gwaethaf bwriadau gorau llawer o bobl, yn parhau heddiw ym Mhowys a’r byd ehangach.

It is important that each and every one of us in Powys lives and works in a way which is respectful to all. But not only this, but in a way which allows inequality to be identified and challenged. We need to start more conversations about inequality in all areas of life, but in relation to mental health we need to focus on the issues which still result in people having unequal access to services and support.

This support might benefit from more joined up working – particularly between the many different organisations providing health and related care. It is also important to hear more often the voice of those experiencing inequality – and inviting those individuals who are willing to share their experiences to participate in designing future health services better equipped to serve their needs. We welcome contact from anyone who wishes to contribute to shaping future services. You can find out more on our Getting Involved website pages and / or contact our Mental Health Participation Officer Owen Griffkin by emailing: owen.griffkin@pavo.org.uk

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day – “Mental Health in an Unequal World” – is massive. Worthy of a hundred blog posts! Please read the longer documents we have linked to for a greater understanding of what could be achieved by governments, communities and individuals all working together, all willing to push for bigger change to resolve the current inequalities which, despite the best intentions of many, still persist in Powys and the wider world.

NEWYDD DDOD I LAW: Un o flaenoriaethau cyllido’r Dream Fund eleni yw: Anghydraddoldeb Cymdeithasol. Gall elusennau wneud cais am hyd at £1,250,000 ar gyfer prosiect arloesol, effeithiol a chydweithiol. Gellir dysgu mwy a sut i wneud cais am grant yma.

STOP PRESS: One of The Dream Fund’s funding priorities this year is: Social Inequality. Charities can apply for up to £1,250,000 for an innovative, impactful and collaborative project. Find out more and how to apply for a grant here.

World Mental Health Day 2018 - students, young people & mental health

Earlier this month we celebrated World Mental Health Day on Wednesday 10 October. The World Federation for Mental Health is the driver behind this important awareness day.

The theme this year was “young people and mental health in a changing world.” So what better place to raise awareness about caring for the emotional health and wellbeing of young people than the two college bases in Powys – Newtown in the North, and Brecon in the South. We worked closely with colleagues at NPTC Group of Colleges, which is one of the largest Further Education providers in Wales, to run an information event at each campus.

Brecon High School pupils on a visit to the Brecon college campus

The day was a great success. Rather than write a long blog post, I am posting photographs and feedback from some of those who attended to capture a flavour of what happened on the day.

Julia Gorman (Ponthafren Association), Claire Powell (Community Connector),
Jen Hawkins (PAVO), Sarah Dale (Individual Rep), and a student from the Newtown college campus

Jen Hawkins, Health & Social Care Information Officer, PAVO

It’s good to talk, especially when it comes to mental health. Emojis and cake provided the perfect way to start conversations around mental health at Newtown College as part of PAVO’s World Mental Health Day event.

Cake was definitely an added advantage with lots of people initially attracted by free cake to start their day but it soon proved a perfect way to begin to talk about feelings.

An Emoji wall of fame provided a great backdrop for students and staff to identify how they were feeling in a supportive, open way. Before long the wall was soon covered with a colourful range of post it notes that covered a whole spectrum of emotions. It was great to read all the positive comments, where people were feeling great, happy and excited but poignant to have people share that they felt broken, numb and worried or anxious. This was a good opportunity to point people in the right direction of supportive services such as the college counsellor and third sector organisations like Ponthafren Association.

Comments were also received in Arabic and Spanish, which just goes to show that no matter what language we may speak it’s good to talk about mental health.

Claire Powell, Community Connector - Newtown, Llanfair Caereinion, Montgomery

I was surprised at how well some of the students were able to express how they felt using just one word and it gets you thinking - do they have enough opportunity to express their true feelings in a safe and supportive environment..?? I work with adults over the age of 18 but the event really opened my eyes to the daily challenges faced by younger students, and also how important it is for them to know where to go for support.

It was fantastic to hear that so many students are already volunteering and are looking for more opportunities to do this to give back to the community. 

Lisa Harding & Debbie Rees, Children & Adolescent Mental Health Services

Lisa Harding, Team Leader North Powys, and Debbie Rees, Support Worker - Children & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

We felt the day was fantastic in relation to networking with other agencies, putting faces to names! So that we can communicate on a regular basis.

It was great to make contact with the young people of north Powys from the age of 16+. What we felt went well was the connection with the lecturers asking questions about the young people they support day-to-day in relation to their mental health, offering advice and support.

One of our service users came to see us while there, to say ‘thank you’ for all the help and support from CAMHS.

The day was positive and productive in nature.

Hazel Osborne, College Counselling Service, Newtown campus

Hazel Osborne, College Counselling Service, NPTC Newtown

It was great to see a presence of many local mental health services at this event.

Our students very much enjoyed the cake and engaged with the mood board. It felt an important chance to continue developing a normalisation of accessing these sorts of services and an opportunity for us to further deepen the students’ awareness of the counselling and support services available on site.

Danielle Lewis & Neil Rees, Detached Youth Work team, Powys County Council

Rosemary Denham, Student Services Manager, NPTC Group of Colleges

The day was really positive for our students. PAVO had invited the professional organisations, and our own Health and Social Care students decided to be involved as well. Having these young people taking part meant that it was easier for other students to engage in the event and speak with the outside organisations without feeling embarrassed. It was a very good mix.

Spin-offs included:

• The Newtown Health & Social Care students gave an on-the-spot donation to Ponthafren – this was money that had been proffered for the lovely cakes which they had provided themselves and were giving away at no cost.
• Our Enterprise Officer is running a project near to Christmas and the funds raised there will be given to a mental health charity.
• Our college subject tutors had the opportunity to network with professionals working in the mental health field, and arrangements have been made for talks to be given by the organisations to specific student groups in the coming weeks. 
• Our college counsellors were also able to discuss their work and referral pathways to outside agencies. 
• Our student welfare staff re-established a working relationship with the Powys Teaching Health Board C-card organisers and ensured a renewed supply of condoms.
   

Sophie Jones, PCSO, Brecon Neighbourhood Policing team

Emojiis on a blank wall prompted students to comment on their feelings – 62% said they were happy, 8% were hungry – and 32% expressed negative emotions (including being stressed, anxious, tired, paranoid, depressed, worried) – this highlighted the need for the college to do all we can to help with mental health awareness.

PAVO offered the opportunity to work with our Health and Social Care students on volunteering, and also mentioned the possibility of a work placement in Llandrindod Wells.

I was invited to feed back on the day to Louisa Kerr from Powys Teaching Health Board, Vanessa Young from the NHS Confederation, PAVO and staff from mental health services in Mid Wales .It was a great opportunity to reinforce the need for improved mental health services for young people.

Thanks again to PAVO, I also attended the NHS Wales/Powys Teaching Health Board workshop in Builth Wells to contribute to the Powys Sexual Health Improvement Plan about services available / needed for our young people.

Louisa Kerr (PTHB), Vanessa Young (Welsh Confederation), Owen Griffkin (PAVO), Rosemary Denham (NPTC Group), Melanie Davies (PTHB), Lucy Taylor (PAVO), Jolene Duggan (PTHB)

Gateway/Foundation students at Brecon College

• Good information given.
• Excellent day.
• Seeking awareness for students with mental health issues.
• Excellent advice on the stalls.
• Good advice given.
• Fun.
• Interesting.
• Helpful advice.
• Fun activities.
• Informative.
  
  

Kemal Keeble from Rekindle chatting to some of the students in Newtown

Kemal Keeble, Recovery Practitioner, Small Steps Project, Rekindle

It was really great to be a part of the World Mental Health Day at NPTC. It opened the door to many conversations about "what positive mental health means to many of the students" and insight into the work we carry out at Rekindle's The Small Steps Project. It was lovely to see so many young people getting involved and gaining a greater understanding about what services are available to them within the community they study and live in.

Suzanne Fairclough (R) and colleague from Sexual Health Services, Powys Teaching Health Board

Suzy Fairclough, Development Officer for Sexual Health & Support to Perinatal Mental Health, Powys Teaching Health Board

It was a pleasure to attend World Mental Health Day on the 10th October with information boards on Sexual Health Services and to have the opportunity to speak and hand out information to the young people on this subject and explain how Sexual Health links in with mental health, health and wellbeing. 

Abby Sims & Lorna Jones, Mid Powys Mind

Lorna Jones, Youth Worker, Mid Powys Mind

It was a good day with great networking and a privilege to meet young people who wish to make a difference with the outlook and positive attitude toward mental health. 

Lucy Taylor, Senior Officer Children & Young People, PAVO

Thank you to all the students and organisations that joined PAVO in making our World Mental Health Day celebrations with NPTC Colleges in Brecon and Newtown a success. It was so good to see everyone chatting about wellbeing, mental health and just how they were feeling that day. Our Emoji walls captured an image of "How are you feeling today?" 

We would be really pleased to know how you felt the day went and whether you would like to partner with PAVO on future events/ collaborative working? Comment in the box below, or contact us by emailing mentalhealth@pavo.org.uk or ringing 01597 822191.

World Mental Health Day 2015

Saturday 10 October 2015 is World Mental Health Day, which is organised by the Mental Health Foundation in partnership with the World Federation of Mental Health and the World Health Organisation. This year’s theme is Dignity in Mental Health. The MHF states:

“We believe that effectively supporting people experiencing mental health problems is on target to become one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Stigmatising and discriminatory treatment can be particularly distressing when a person is experiencing a health crisis.

We all have mental health, and by failing to treat people with mental health problems with dignity we make it more difficult to ensure that everyone takes steps to safeguard their wellbeing and to seek help, as it can lead to self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation.”

The World Federation for Mental Health has published a collection of papers under the heading "Dignity in Mental Health" from "expert authors who show that dignity in the mental health context can have many meanings and can be applied to every aspect of care." There are contributions from all around the world - including for the UK - Professor Mike Pringle CBE on "Mental Health for All: Mental and physical health parity - the role of General Practice".

The definition of dignity, according to one of those handy online dictionaries, is: “being worthy of honour or respect”. In our day-to-day lives we all expect to be treated with dignity, and it follows on from that – so we would too if in contact with any services we seek in relation to our mental health.

But provision of mental health services is complex and linked in to the laws of the land. Staff are often desperately firefighting due to cuts and increased paperwork, sometimes they barely have time to even talk to their patients…. The very fact that this theme has been chosen for World Mental Health Day 2015 suggests that there are issues around being treated with dignity whilst distressed.

Mental Health Foundation Tea & Talk initiative
for World Mental Health Day

What does it feel like, not being treated with dignity? It might feel that:

I am not being listened to

My colleague Jane Cooke says: “I think the fundamental thing for me is the quality of listening - and acknowledging that I am saying what I am saying - I think my dignity is affected when people reply with something like “So it’s about…” and then telling me what I said. It means that I am not heard - I’ve been put into a box.”

I have been labelled

Perhaps I have been told I have a specific diagnosis or disorder. I might not agree, but I might need the diagnosis to access further support or other services. I have to compromise to make a step towards recovery. In North Powys young people are fighting back against being labelled – those involved in the Young Adult Peer Support project at Ponthafren Association made a video called – “I don’t let mental health define me” in which young people challenge stigma with the powerful message: “Everyone has mental health.”

I am just a number, an entry on a list, without individuality or identity

It is all-too-common anywhere in Wales, not just in Powys, to be on a waiting list for psychological or talking therapies if support of this kind is considered appropriate. People in this situation can feel isolated, forgotten, and helpless. They don’t know where to turn. But just communicating with people can be helpful, as Jane found out at an event she helped organise earlier this year specifically to look at issues relating to the waiting lists.

I might lose my freedom

I no longer have control over my life – perhaps I am forced to take medication against my wishes or engage in activities which don’t interest me. Ultimately I may lose my freedom if I am detained under the Mental Health Act. Derek Turner and Jan Rogers wrote about the value of Advance Statements for crisis planning recently, whereby people are able to make their wishes clear in a written statement which could be referred to in times of mental health crisis. In this way someone experiencing mental distress in a public place could be supported with dignity rather than arrested and perhaps “bundled into a police van.”

I am not valued – by family, friends or staff with whom I come into contact… My self-esteem has hit rock bottom…

On Maple Ward at the Longley Centre, Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has developed ‘Dignity Steps’ which translate the views of people using the service into actions for improvement. It’s a lot like the approach taken by Powys Patients Council here, where mental health inpatients meet with experienced volunteers to talk about improvements they would like to see on Felindre Ward at Bronllys Hospital in South Powys. Rhydian Parry, who is a rep on the National Mental Health Partnership Board, wrote about his experience of volunteering on Powys Patients’ Council.

Together for Mental Health is the Welsh Government strategy for improving mental health and a vision for mental health services across Wales. Objective 13 of the national outcomes states:

“Service user experience is improved, and safety, protection and dignity are ensured and embedded in sustainable services.”

The ambition is there, but what is the reality actually like? Identifying the problem, in some ways, is easy. Much harder is thinking of solutions… but there are lots of ideas on the Social Care Institute for Excellence website – take a look and see what you think.

If you have been in contact with mental health services, do you feel you were treated with dignity? If yes, great, tell us about it and we can spread the news of some good practice! If not… why do you think this was so, and what could be done to improve things?

Brecon & District Mind is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Morning to mark World Mental Health Day this Saturday 10 October, 10am - 2pm at Brecon Guildhall. Tea and coffee available. All welcome.

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is Depression: A Global Crisis.

Around 350 million people globally are already affected by depression and the World Health Organisation estimate it will be the single biggest burden of disease in the world by 2030.

Today, the World Federation for Mental Health is promoting the message that: 

• Depression is a treatable illness and recovery is possible and achievable
• Depression is not a sign of weakness - it's a mental health disorder that prevents people from having a normal life
• It's the most predominant and costly mental health challenge for people of working-age 
• All countries should be aiming to develop resilience to depression 
• More research into mental health is needed to increase the understanding of mental disorders and develop more effective responses.

The Mental Health Foundation fully supports this campaign and much of our work is helping to achieve and share the same messages. All year round we have the key facts and figures on mental health including depression. We talk with people on social media to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health and how to reduce the associated stigma.

We've developed some really useful resources for today including advice on how to manage your mental health and our Chief Executive Andrew McCulloch has written a blog about the future of Mental Health.

We're also being joined by The Samaritans and Black Dog Tribe in supporting Rethink Your Mind, a national creative project that challenges everyone to produce poems, artwork and photography around the theme of mental health. The entries will be showcased on the Rethink Your Mind website.

Thousands of people all across the UK are marking today by holding a Tea & Talk event - getting together with friends for a chat and and raising money for mental health. However you decide to mark World Mental Health Day we hope you help us to spread the message and join in to help everyone live mentally healthier lives and reduce the stigma around mental health problems.

To join the debate and find out more facts, stories and tips, check us out on Facebook and Twitter.