Brecon & District Mind - Introduction to a new Pilot Crisis Prevention Service

by guest author Val Walker
Chief Executive Officer at Brecon & District Mind

What is the service? – The purpose

This new service, from Brecon & District Mind in South Powys, will provide a place of safety when an individual is in mental health crisis but does not need a medical intervention or the support of inpatient services.

The service, which launches on Wednesday 3 February 2021, will provide support from suitably experienced and qualified crisis support staff in a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. Crisis support workers will be available in the centre to take initial calls from either the person in crisis or another agency wishing to refer into the service. Advice and support will either be conducted over the phone or in accordance with all current Coronavirus regulations, support may take place face to face in the centre.

Val Walker, CEO at Brecon & District Mind

Crisis support staff will carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment and a personal risk assessment with the person in crisis or their representative before agreement to attend the centre in person. The person in crisis will need to be able to make their own way in to the centre wherever possible.

When?

The service will operate 5 nights per week initially - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sundays from 7:30 - 10:30pm. Crisis workers will be available to take calls from 7pm via the crisis line – 01874 793118.

Where?

The service will operate at Brecon and District Mind’s Wellbeing centre in Brecon – Ty Croeso.

What can I expect?

• To be treated as an individual.
• To be listened to non-judgmentally to understand what matters to you.
• To be supported either by phone or face to face in the centre.
• To look at coping mechanisms and tools that will help you deal with your situation and the feelings leading to the crisis.
• To be signposted to a range of other services to support you following the moment of crisis.
• To be referred to the appropriate agencies should you need medical intervention or should you become a risk to yourself or to others.
• To find a place of safety where you can talk about your feelings and experience with staff and or peers who may have had/are having similar experiences.

Why are we doing this?

We are aware that many more people than ever are struggling with life’s difficulties and pressures. When life gets too difficult it can be hard to contain feelings and emotions that arise, which can lead to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. 

We want to provide a safe space where people can talk openly to skilled and experienced staff who understand to prevent situations escalating. Talking about how you feel without being judged, and feeling that you are being listened to,, is the first step to getting the support you need to help you through a difficult time.

Contact numbers 

Crisis Prevention Service: 01874 793118 

Brecon & District Mind office: 01874 611529 

Email: info@breconmind.org.uk

Mums Matter in a Changing World

Ros Sandhu, Mums Matter facilitator

In our latest blog post Ros Sandhu, a Mums Matter Facilitator, explains how the support that Brecon and District Mind provides has been adapted to continue to safely help families who are living through the pandemic.

I am one of the two Mums Matter Facilitators. My background is in education and I was a secondary school teacher for 20 years before training to be a Health and Wellbeing Facilitator.

I have a special interest in using mindfulness techniques to enhance our health and wellbeing. I am mum to 2 daughters who are 12 and 18 and, like most women with children, I recognize that the journey that I have been on since becoming a mum has been by far the most powerful and important part of my life with many challenges, as well as opportunities for growth. 

I joined the team in April 2020 and it feels wonderful to be using my experiences and skills to be supporting women with the most important and difficult job that we face. I passionately believe that sharing experiences is by far the most helpful and healing part of any support service because we feel less alone, we connect with others and learn that it is not just us or our ‘fault’. We are reminded that this is all part of the messy business of simply being a human being. 

I would encourage any mums with babies to get in touch; you will almost certainly meet some like-minded women and feel supported through your experiences of motherhood. In these especially challenging times, the Mums Matter Team are here for you.

Practicing our Zoom skills: I’m at the top, Sarah is next & Clare Searle, our fantastic administrator, is next.

My colleague Sarah James has worked as a Mums Matter Facilitator since 2019. She is a proud mum to a 3 year-old little boy and her empathy, warmth and current life experiences make her wonderfully approachable – she is great at keeping things very real. Sarah has a background in community and youth work, and she is also a trained counsellor.

Sarah says, “I have experienced the same challenges as many other mums have, especially during lockdown - juggling childcare, working from home, and getting shopping slots. I also know that the techniques that we teach in Mums Matter really work as I use them every day." 

It feels especially important at the moment, to be able to share the Mums Matter toolkit with mums to help them get through each day. I would encourage mums to get in touch – these techniques are tried and tested, and take it from me, they really work!”

A bit of background …

The basic premise of the whole Family Support Service at Brecon and District Mind is that happy and supported parents equals happy and healthy children.

The original Mums Matter was co-produced by a group of Mums in Peterborough with national Mind, who then led and supported local Minds in the UK to deliver the programme alongside Mind Cymru for Powys.

It is an 8 week programme which offers groups of around 6 - 8 mums an informal weekly 2 hour workshop where they can share their experiences of early motherhood and also learn some very practical tools and coping techniques to help them manage things like negative self-talk and develop a greater understanding of the importance of self-care. 

At the heart of the approach is the idea that amazing things happen when women support each other and there are many ways to be a great mum. Crucially in the original Mums Matter course, we provide a creche facility during the weekly 2 hour meet ups and so mums have the time and headspace to really focus on themselves and even get to drink a hot cup of tea!

In Brecon, Mums Matter has been running for over 3 years, originally with Deborah Wilkie as the only facilitator. It has become a highly successful and popular programme and as such now employs 2 facilitators in the Mums Matter team funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. Deborah now oversees Brecon & District Mind’s growing Family Support Service which also provides a peer group for Dads, as well as family support for parents with older children, both one to one and in a group setting – this has also all been moved online.

“I would like to thank the amazing support from the Mums that have attended the programme. They have been hugely inspiring and great advocates by promoting and sharing their own experiences of the programme to other Mums in groups and the wider community." Debs x

We see our role as facilitating peer support for parents by providing spaces where mums and dads can talk openly about the challenges that they are experiencing and have the space to feel listened to. We also introduce them to some very practical tools and skills that they can use to take care of themselves and manage the inevitable stresses of family life.

Mums Matter in a Changing World

Mums Matter in a Changing World is our remote version of Mums Matter – it is delivered using Zoom (the online communication platform) and we meet together online for an hour a week, for 8 weeks. We chose the name ‘Mums Matter in a Changing World’ to reflect how different and difficult things currently are for people, because of the pandemic, and how quickly things have, and will continue to change. We offer one to one support on the phone and in texts in between the sessions as well.

“It was so comforting to learn that other mums have been having the same feelings and experiences as me. Actually seeing their faces and hearing their voices has made me feel less alone.”  Mum July 2020

In our first Mums Matter in a Changing World course we have found the mums have needed to share their understandable sense of loss. Most of our mums gave birth around the time that Covid 19 was already in the community. As a result of this they have not been able to spend their maternity leave as they imagined. For example, they haven’t been able to share the cuddles with their newborns with families and friends. Some mums were not able to have the shared birth experience that they had planned. 

Mums have been faced with many other challenges for example, due to lockdown, finding novel ways to weigh their babies at home and grappling with the challenges of breast feeding and establishing routines. They have truly tapped into their motherly instincts; over and again, we have been struck by the resilience and tenacity that they have shown.

“I am finding it really helpful to talk through the decisions that I am having to make with the facilitators and the other mums – there is the pull of wanting to keep my baby safe and the push of wanting to return to some kind of normality and see friends and family.”  Mum, July 2020

As lockdown is easing mums are facing a whole new set of challenges and dilemmas. How much risk to take in terms of meeting up with friends and families and perhaps a reminder of how much the world has changed. Mums are having to balance their needs as mums with the safety of their babies and families within an environment of constantly changing government guidelines and scientific understanding of the virus still unfolding. The project can provide a safe space to start to look at these and to share the experiences that they are having and some tools and techniques to manage the understandable anxiety that many are facing. 

The next Mums Matter in a Changing World course will start in September and we will also be back doing face to face courses as soon as it is safe to do so. 

To find out more about this specially adapted remote Mums Matter course by Zoom call Sarah on 07535 385 512 or Ros on 07399 583 415.

Green Minds Ecotherapy Project - South Powys

by guest author Jess Tanner

Green Minds is Brecon & District Mind's new Ecotherapy project which launched this winter. As a fledgling project we are in the process of developing a range of nature-based initiatives that are rich in social and therapeutic value, and aim to reduce social isolation and increase the quality of life for our group members and the local community.

Our project's aim is to help our members to build a stronger connection and sense of belonging to the local environment by exploring the local landscape through mindfulness and nature-connection walks. The project will also help people to create new links within the local area through volunteering roles, and provide opportunities for our members to build self-confidence, self-reliance and new skills.

Our activities are currently taking place at Brecon Cathedral where our project is working towards the design and development of more wildlife friendly planting within the garden areas of the cathedral grounds. We have also started work within a walled garden in Brecon this month, preparing the polytunnel for the seed sowing ahead.

We also have lots of woodland mindfulness walks and craft activities coming up over the next few months. These include willow weaving workshops led by a professional basket maker as well as a bird box making session as part of February's national bird box making month.

We are now open to receive new referrals from within the community for those that feel being part of the Green Minds project will be of benefit to them. Please get in touch for more details.

When asked what mattered most to our members after the Green Minds' sessions their responses were:

“Working with other people and being able to see the end result. I feel less worried, being outside helps clear your mind.” - Sarah

“I felt uplifted when we took a step back and looked at the results of our graft. It's good to interact with others and be outside doing something good.” - Rich

Jess Tanner - Project lead biography

As well as working for Brecon & District Mind as a Community Wellbeing Support Worker, Jess leads the new Green Minds Ecotherapy Project, delivering horticultural therapy and community gardening activities for adults. 

Her background includes working within the creative arts therapies, outdoor education and life long learning. Jess undertook her horticultural training over a one year WRAGS placement (Women retraining as a gardener scheme) in the Black Mountains and also holds an Award in Social & Therapeutic Horticulture with Thrive. 

Jess is passionate about facilitating opportunities that help people to access gardens and green spaces and build stronger relationships with the local area and surrounding landscapes.

Emma Charles - Co-project lead biography

Emma is a Nature Based Facilitator offering ecotherapy and social and therapeutic horticulture in and around the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. 

Her background is in social care provision, having worked in the third sector for over 10 years. Emma has recently joined the Green Minds Ecotherapy Project and her hope is to raise awareness of the importance of the natural world on our mental and physical wellbeing, and to bring people into a closer relationship with their natural selves whilst cultivating a deeper sense of appreciation for the beautiful environment they live in here in the Brecon Beacons.

You can find out more about the Green Minds Ecotherapy Project by contacting Jess Tanner at Brecon & District Mind, email: Jess.T@breconmind.org.uk or ring 01874 611529. Jess works Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Social prescribing - a pilot project in South Powys

Rhiannon Davies is known to many people as she was, for many years, the very active chair of Brecon Dementia Friendly Community. Recently Rhiannon has moved on to a new role in the voluntary sector in South Powys, as a link worker for a very particular project at Brecon & District Mind. I was interested to find out more, as social prescribing is becoming increasingly recognised as an important service to complement more traditional health services at the local GP surgery.

What is social prescribing?

Social prescribing recognises that people’s lives and health are affected by social, economic and environmental factors and these needs have to be taken into account for our wellbeing. Looking at people holistically and addressing these things takes extra time. So rather than just having a prescription for a medicine, social prescribing can help you to access a wide range of support and activities in the local community to ensure your needs are being met.

Tell us more about your role with Brecon & District Mind

I am a link worker providing a new service, provided by Brecon and District Mind, in Brecon Medical Practice on Thursdays, and Crickhowell Medical Centre on Tuesdays. It’s called Social Prescribing and it aims to help you get the support you need, when you need it, to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Why might someone need this service?

Maybe big life decisions are making you worry, so you might want to approach the decisions differently. If you are feeling lonely you might like to make new friends. If you have money problems, you might like to be more in control of your finances. If you are feeling stressed, anxious and depressed you would probably like to sleep better and feel more relaxed.

Everyone needs some help from time to time to overcome life’s challenges. The answer lies in finding the right support at the right time.

Who can be referred to the Social Prescribing service and how?

If you are over 18 and registered with either Brecon or Crickhowell Medical Practices you can ask for a Social Prescribing patient pack at the surgery reception and make a self-referral by completing a consent form. 

Sarah James, Link Worker and Helen O'Donovan, Administrator

How does Social Prescribing work?

Once you have completed a consent form, as a link worker, I will contact you to arrange an appointment at the surgery. When we meet, you can then spend time with me, letting me know your circumstances, how you are feeling, what matters to you and what you think might help to improve your wellbeing. 

Using my knowledge of community support and services, I will then help you to connect to the appropriate local community and voluntary groups, activities and advice services. This could range from wellbeing activities in your local community, housing / benefits / financial support and advice, art or music activities, support groups covering things like bereavement, relationship issues, stress or mindfulness, walking or running groups, and peer support from others who have similar experiences. 

After about three months you will have a final follow-up phone call or meeting so we can see the impact the service has had.

Why was this project set up?

This social prescribing service is part of a joint research project between Mind Cymru and local Minds, funded by Welsh Government. Understanding how social prescribing can help people overcome stress and anxiety is really important in deciding how best to develop medical services in the future. So as part of the process you will be asked some questions about how you are feeling, and your experiences before and after you have used the service.

We know that social prescribing has really helped people in other areas. By taking part in this initiative those who participate are contributing to important evidence that will help plan future health services. All collected data is anonymous.

Is this service available in other parts of Powys?

My colleague, Sarah James, is allocated link worker for Hay and Talgarth surgeries, but Brecon and District Mind is still waiting for the green light before setting up the service there. Ystradgynlais Mind is also part of the research project and has two link workers working in a similar way to Brecon and District Mind.

Which organisations do you work closely with in Powys to provide support to people?

These are early days as the service has only been running for a few weeks, but already I have made referrals to a number of local voluntary organisations, housing, Brecon Leisure Centre, Brecon Job Centre, volunteering groups, a walking group, an art group, the Centre for Long-term Condition Management and Brecon Mind Community Wellbeing service to name a few! The list of potential organisations we have collated to date is well over seventy!

What kind of feedback are you getting from people about the project?

So far the feedback has been very positive, and people are genuinely grateful to have access to such a resource. As I said, the service is still in its infancy, so we hope the numbers accessing the service will build as the word gets out.

What are the main challenges of the role?

Not knowing who is going to come through the door, it’s really important to stay open minded and really listen, so you are not just hearing what people say, but what they mean. Because it’s a new service, making sure all the healthcare professionals are aware of what it can offer and its benefits, so they see it as a regular part of their referral pathway in delivering healthcare is a genuine challenge – as is trying to fit everything in in just two working days a week!

Tell us about some of the most rewarding work you have done in the role so far

I have met some fantastic people to date. People who struggle to see their own strengths and just need some encouragement and support to find what they already have within themselves. Being part of that process and seeing them genuinely engage and take responsibility, setting themselves goals and then, with some extra knowledge and understanding, move forward is hugely rewarding and inspiring.

When you are not working for Brecon & District Mind, how do you enjoy spending your time?

Reading, going to concerts and listening to music, walking our dog, gardening, doing volunteer work within my own community, being with friends and family. Juggling and balancing are my two constant challenges, but I’m up for it as long as I’m learning!

If you want to find out more about the Social Prescribing service you can contact Rhiannon by emailing: rhiannon@breconmind.org.uk or ring: 01874 611529 / 07487 523992. Rhiannon is happy to answer individual questions or queries about the service or spread the word by talking to community groups.

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.

Connecting at Brecon’s Bipolar UK support group

This week's post is from a regular attendee at the monthly Bipolar UK support group in Brecon.

My name is Liz and I have bipolar disorder. I first experienced mental health difficulties at aged 16, and was diagnosed with depression at 22. I continued to experience depressive episodes, which became more severe and frequent during my working life, leading to early retirement when I was 48. 

I was treated with a number of antidepressants, but these had limited efficacy and activating side effects. I was told I had Treatment Resistant Depression and things seemed pretty bleak. 

Six years ago, in my early fifties, I was sectioned and admitted to a psychiatric ward with psychosis. Following this I continued to experience mental health symptoms, despite medication and therapy. 

In April 2016 I was seen at the National Centre for Mental Health in Cardiff and given the diagnosis of Bipolar 1 Disorder. Since starting a mood stabilizer, I have been much better. 

I also attended the Bipolar Education Programme Cymru, an award winning education programme for people with bipolar developed by Cardiff University.

Following my diagnosis, I picked up a Bipolar UK flyer at the hospital. I later contacted Bipolar UK to find out what support was available in my area, and they put me in touch with the Bipolar Support group in Brecon. I have been attending the group for almost a year, travelling the 20 miles from Merthyr, and really value the sessions.

The group meets on the 4th Monday of the month between 7 and 9pm in Brecon and District Mind. The sessions are open to people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, family and carers, and it costs just £1 to attend. Refreshments are provided.

The meetings allow time to find out more about bipolar disorder, and to share how we are all feeling and doing. Sometimes we have outside speakers. These have included Jodine Fec, the Lead Pharmacist Mental Health for Powys Teaching Local Health Board and Support Workers from Gwalia Care and Support. We might also watch films with a bipolar theme – one was Infinitely Polar Bear – a comedy drama about a man from Boston with bipolar. Or sometimes we enjoy a bring and share meal together. 

Personally, I really value the mutual sharing and support, in a friendly and non-judgmental environment. I have my own social networks, but it’s not the same as talking to someone with bipolar disorder who has the understanding and experience.

You don’t have to speak at the meetings if you don’t want to, although everyone has the opportunity to do so. You can stay as long as you want – so leave whenever you wish. And you can come along to as many or as few meetings as you like.

The groups are aimed at people aged 18 and over, but young people aged between 16 – 18 can attend if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

The next meeting is on Monday 27 November 2017. If you would like to join us at this or any future meetings you would be very welcome. You can:

• Just turn up at a meeting 
• Or find out more by phoning 0333 323 3885
• Or email: brecon@bipolarukgroups.org.uk

Stop press: We plan to screen a film about Graham Obree, the cyclist nicknamed “The Flying Scotsman” who lives with bipolar disorder, at a future meeting.

Many thanks to Liz for telling us about the Bipolar Support group at Brecon. This is currently the only such group operating in Powys, but if you would like to see a group in your area then contact Bipolar UK to express an interest. The more people who want a group in a specific area then the more viable it becomes.

All artwork by Liz.

Psychoeducation for Bipolar Disorder

We recently found out about a new support initiative in Powys for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. We asked Paul Gauci, who works at the National Centre for Mental Health in Cardiff, and Julie, a recent participant on the course down there, to tell us more. 

Talking therapies often involve individual, one-on-one sessions, but a programme being run by the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) is using group sessions to help improve quality of life for people with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Education Programme Cymru, or BEPC, is an award-winning group education programme developed by the Centre and their colleagues at Cardiff University.

It aims to help people with bipolar disorder to better understand and manage the condition, identify early warning signs of highs and lows, and develop the skills needed to stay as well as possible.

By delivering the programme in a group setting, people have the opportunity to share their personal experiences of living with bipolar disorder and to learn from each other, as well as from the course. It also gives the programme a more social element, making it more enjoyable and encouraging participants to attend all the sessions.

For many people it might be the first time they’ve ever met anyone else with the condition, so it can be a very positive experience for them to know that they aren’t the only ones affected by it.

There are 10 sessions, in groups of up to 15, each lasting for between two and two and a half hours. These combine presentations, informal group discussions and short exercises. The sessions include:

• Introduction.
• What is bipolar disorder?
• What causes bipolar disorder?
• The use of medication in bipolar disorder.
• Psychological approaches to bipolar disorder.
• Lifestyle issues and bipolar disorder.
• Monitoring mood and identifying triggers.
• Early warning signature.
• Bringing it all together.

Family members and carers of the group participants are also given the option to attend an additional session where they can find out more about bipolar disorder and meet other people in similar situations.

Courses have been delivered throughout Wales, and an estimated 570 people have benefited from taking part, including 65 in 2015 - 16. The model has also been adopted internationally, with healthcare providers as far afield as New Zealand, the Netherlands and Turkey running courses based on BEPC.

A participant’s view...

Julie

I first became unwell in my 20s and I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. It was the start of a very difficult time in my life where I really struggled with my illness.

I also experienced what I now know were manic episodes, which could be just as devastating as my episodes of depression. I’ve gotten into very dangerous situations and the aftermath can be terrible.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder following the birth of my son, and the medication has been helpful although my mood still fluctuates and I can become very unwell. My psychiatrist told me about BEPC and recommended I try it.

The day I started the programme I was really nervous, but the facilitators really made me feel at ease. I found it amazing to meet people with the same diagnosis as me - all from different walks of life - different cultures and ages experiencing the same struggles.

I learned about managing my lifestyle, relapse prevention and early intervention through being aware of triggers and early warning signs. I also completed a manual as we went through the course which was tailored to my needs. I still use it today and it forms the basis of my care plan - I call it my bible.

This programme changed my life and I’m almost certain it has saved my life. I have gone from coping to managing my bipolar disorder.

BEPC in Powys

A new course will be running in Brecon, beginning on Tuesday 27 September, and then running every Tuesday for 10 weeks. There may be an 11th week, depending on whether there is demand for a friends and families session.

For more information contact the NCMH on 029 2068 8399 or email bepc@ncmh.info

About NCMH

The National Centre for Mental Health is a research centre made up of researchers from Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor Universities. It is funded by Health and Care Research Wales, and aims to improve treatment, diagnosis and support for people affected by mental health problems including bipolar disorder.

The Centre is looking for volunteers to take part in its research - it takes under an hour and can take place in your own home. Find out more about taking part.

Memory boxes – connecting with the past

I recently found out about an innovative new dementia-friendly project in Brecon called the Memory Box Loan Scheme, which is run by Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“This new service is aimed at those working with, or caring for, older people. Each box has a particular theme and is made up of a range of objects from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The idea behind the boxes is that they can be used to stimulate memory and start conversation. They can be especially useful for talking about the past with a person with a dementia”.

Martine Woodcock, Education Officer at Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery, told me more:

The project was initially set up by our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Emily Tilling, who has since left Brecknock Museum. The project is now co-ordinated by myself and one of our curatorial assistants, Jacqueline Morgan. Emily spent a lot of time setting up the project and worked with a group of our Museum volunteers who were very interested in taking the project further. They were dedicated in their enthusiasm by either donating personal items or frequently visiting charity shops so that we could build up our collection. Local charity shops have been very generous in supporting the project when they hear what we are using the items for.

The service came about as one of the targets on our HLF Activity Plan was to run reminiscence sessions with older people. As we were about to start this we were invited to a Dementia Friendly session by Rhiannon Davies who is one of the Co-Chairs of Brecon Area Dementia Friendly Community. She delivered a fascinating and informative session and we decided that if we started up a Memory Box Loan Service then that would be of great benefit to elderly people whether they had dementia or not.

We have about 12 themed boxes altogether (Leisure, Sewing & Knitting, Men in the 50s & 60s, Transport & Holidays, Childhood, Women’s Fashion, Household, Photography, World War II, Cooking & Baking, and Shopping) and information has been circulated to care homes and day centres. The boxes don’t have an excessive amount in them and we try to put them in relevant containers such as a vanity case for ‘Women’s Fashion’ and a knitting bag for the ‘Sewing and Knitting’. 

We have opted for group rather than individual use at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that that won’t change in the future. The loan service has been very popular with boxes going out most weeks. We usually let organisations have them for about a fortnight so that other groups don’t have to wait too long.

We don’t facilitate the sessions ourselves. We are just the box providers. We send out a feedback form with the boxes so we know where we could improve the contents/service and we also send out discussion prompts and some item information sheets as we appreciate that those facilitating the session may not have come across the things in the boxes before. A prompt from the Sewing & Knitting box might be: “Did you use the phrase ‘make do and mend’? Did you wear darned or patched clothes? What were scraps of material or old clothes used for (rag rugs, cleaning cloths)?” The box contents include knitting needles, thimbles, tape measures, patterns, crochet and knitting samples, cotton reels, velvet, ribbon and an old knitting pattern magazine!

Rhiannon, and the other Brecon Area Dementia Friendly Community Co-chair, Joan Brown, are also very keen to involve the young people of Brecon in raising Dementia Awareness. Joan has been working alongside local Primary Schools. Year 6 pupils regularly visit care home residents and have used some of our boxes at sessions as well as devising their own.

So, as you can see, it really has taken off in Brecon! We are very proud that we can be a part of maybe bringing a little bit of pleasure for someone experiencing dementia. We are of course prepared for the fact that some objects may jolt unhappy memories too.

We have promoted the service well with the assistance of Brecon Dementia Friendly Community. We recently attended the ‘Ageing Creatively’ day as part of Gwanwyn (a festival each May celebrating creativity in older age) which was held at Theatr Brycheiniog where we displayed boxes. We did the same as part of ‘Dementia Awareness Week’ at The Guild Hall, Brecon. I have also done a talk to a group of Alzheimer’s Befrienders about how simple it can be to put a box together.

Rhiannon Davies, of Brecon Dementia Friendly Community (a familiar face on this blog) has used some of these memory boxes several times at the weekly Tea & Chat and Music & Memories sessions, as well as in care home settings. I spoke to her to find out more:

The volunteer co-ordinator at the museum was full of energy and ideas. Staff there could see what was possible and made it happen. Dr Anja Pinhorn, a consultant at the Brecon Memorial War Hospital, has also borrowed memory boxes to take on to the general ward. They have a lot of long-stay patients with physical illnesses, some of whom have dementia. It is really important to keep them interested and stimulated, and this is an excellent way of doing that. I hear that they are going to make “conversation boxes” in Ystradgynlais Hospital for use on the general ward.

At Brecon Dementia Friendly Community we are starting a new activity in the Autumn on the hospital wards – introducing creative activities and supporting the nursing staff with ideas to generate conversations so that people do not become institutionalised. The memory boxes have been used very successfully so far as they have items in them that can trigger memories and conversations. It can, otherwise, sometimes be difficult to start a conversation with a patient.

In one of the care homes I went into with the boxes a vanity case containing fashion items was used. It had things for ladies, including a suspender belt, stockings, lipstick and a powder pack. It was just fantastic! People actually wanted to pick up and handle the items and had a lot of fun. We don’t use some of these things any more but they take people back to the time when they were used often, and can trigger all sorts of memories such as taking people back to an age when they were much younger and getting ready to go to a dance.

The boxes are a very powerful way of stimulating memories and keeping people connected. There is then a collective connection which is lovely and enhances relationships between the staff and the patient or resident. After you have built this relationship you can achieve trust and it makes things much easier for people.

Many thanks to Martine and Rhiannon for telling us about this wonderful scheme. Perhaps you could use their ideas and develop something similar in your community?

The Brecon memory boxes are available to borrow free of charge. However, it is a collection-only service. To book a memory box or for further information call 01874 624121 or email brecknock.museum@powys.gov.uk