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.

The Wales Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum – an update

by guest author Sarah Dale 

Sarah Dale is a citizen rep – an unpaid volunteer who sits on regional and national partnership boards, including the Wales Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum (formerly the National Mental Health Service User and Carers’ Forum) – “the voice of lived experience”.

“I became a rep because I don't want others to have to fight for years just to be diagnosed to get the treatment they need. I strongly believe we all have the responsibility to do what we can to change and improve the mental health services that we all use.” 

In the summer of 2020 Sarah attended the latest meetings of the Forum, which took place online over the course of two days (28 July and 12 August). It was Powys’ turn to host and Sarah chaired one of the sessions. Sarah recently reported back to the Engage to Change partnership board (sub-group of the Powys Mental Health Planning & Development Board) about what took place over the course of the two days.

We had a general update and I did a long Powys update because we have done so much. There was a lot of feedback from the other reps that they were surprised how much work we actually do in Powys as reps. Someone said “now that is real co-production!” A lot of the other health boards haven’t actually done a lot during Covid, for example, having meetings or involving reps.

Then we had a quick session on the logo, looking at the new name and design. That was all approved. This was followed by a session on the Terms of Reference which were also approved, including the Easy Read version which I had gone through and amended. I don’t like the term Easy Read, I call it “Sarah readable!”

We looked at the new member roles which were also approved. Some people who have exceeded their term of office are now able to stay on in the Forum. We have other working groups – so there’s a Diversity and Equality Working Group – and we are looking at people we want to include in these groups, so we send out “About Us” emails to organisations.

A representative from Welsh Government updated us. They have asked us to become involved in reviewing some of the Public Health documents. Ministers have invested £5 million towards ending homelessness and are supporting local authorities to provide longer term housing solutions. The three regional Suicide Prevention Coordinators have been appointed and an announcement about suicide prevention grant funding will be made soon. Welsh Government is working with the voluntary sector to develop a framework for better engagement in recognition that there is not enough work in partnership with smaller mental health charities in particular.

The Welsh Government is reviewing the Together for Mental Health and Talk to Me 2 delivery plans to strengthen areas which have been particularly impacted by Covid and to review timescales for delivery on one year actions. The revised plans will be presented at the National Partnership Board and the National Advisory Group in September for feedback. Equalities is one area where there will really be a focus, along with housing and homelessness, wellbeing and public health, and financial impacts. A number of Tier 0 interventions such as online self-help resources have been established. There have been some rapid reviews to changes made during lockdown which are being coordinated by the NHS – on what works based on user surveys and staff feedback.

One thing which Ainsley Blaydon (Mental Health Strategy Lead for Welsh Government) would like is feedback about what it has been like as a “service user” under Covid so I mentioned to her that we had done a survey of people under services in Powys.

Sarah on an interview panel for mental health services at the health board

Previously I have not been able to access the Forum working groups as they have been in South Wales and I don’t like to travel because of my anxiety. Covid has meant that a lot of these meetings are on Zoom so I have been able to join a couple which is really exciting. From each health board you have two service user and two carer reps and they are automatically invited to the Forum. Because of the number of health boards in the South there feels more of a South Wales representation – sometimes it feels like we are forgotten in the North. If I was in the working groups I felt I would have more of a sense of belonging so I joined the Equality and Diversity Group because that is my strong suit and also because there is inequality in representation.

In the group they have identified people they want to join – these are people from travelling communities, those experiencing homelessness, LGBTQIA, digitally excluded and Welsh language speakers. So I asked – do you even know who in the Forum fits into these categories? I’m here, I fit into the homelessness one because I’ve been made homeless. So I made them look inwards at the start – and now I’m doing some of that work. I was assigned the LGBTQIA list, so I did a lot of Google searching on all the different groups – most of them are Facebook groups and very hard to find, which is something we need to tackle, but I have compiled a list.

When I joined the Forum I just turned up, there was no Equality & Diversity form, so I’m creating a form I’ve dubbed the “Diversity Form”. It’s optional whether people fill out the details about their gender, sexuality, race – the usual equal opportunities but extended so that we can identify specific groups like people who use Personality Disorder Services or Eating Disorder Services or have been homeless. At the end of the document we explain that we are looking for people from these specific groups to talk about their experiences if they are comfortable with that.

I then joined the Future Planning group – one of the questions they have posed is – “Why are we losing so many members? Why can’t we get people to join?” So I explained that there are a lot of people from South Wales and if you’re not from there you feel left out, plus some of the topics don’t really apply to us in Powys. 

At the last Forum meeting the special topic was “Alternative to inpatient care,” which is good but as I said it would be nice to have the basics in Powys. We do not have a 24-hour crisis team – all the other areas do. When I was an outpatient at the Child & Adolescent Unit in Bridgend I missed out on the therapies, treatments and groups that are available to people who live locally. As a Powys resident I saw two different people who came up to Powys for two days a week for half a day by comparison. So one of the suggestions I made was to make it more welcoming to people so there isn’t that divide.

Locally I’ve been invited to join interview panels which I’ve really enjoyed – I did the Suicide & Self Harm Coordinator’s role, a Harm Reduction role and a Crisis Team Practitioner. My thoughts were totally taken into consideration and it was a really good experience. 

Many thanks to Sarah for telling us about the Forum meetings. If you would like to find out more about volunteering as a mental health “citizen rep” in Powys then get in touch with us by emailing mentalhealth@pavo.org.uk or call 01597 822191 and ask to speak to Owen Griffkin.

Taking pride in diversity

by Anne Woods, Participation Officer

For the last three years I’ve volunteered in various ways at the Pride event in London. I was born in London and spent a large part of my life there and so it’s a good opportunity to head back and get involved. After a stint as a senior steward in Soho, managing a team of people to look after the public, I fancied being closer to the parade – a colourful, joyous march through the streets of London: a celebration of the freedom to be whoever you want to be. So in 2015, in the first year of the programme, I volunteered to be an official flag bearer, carrying the Cuban flag along with flagbearers representing countries from around the world at the head of the parade.

Embed from Getty Images

Anne, far right, watching Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley at Pride in London

This year, I was proud to carry the flag of Afghanistan, again heading up the parade behind the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the event directors. The flag bearers create a visual message of support to LGBTQ+ communities around the world. Although in the UK we now have equal marriage and legal protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in many countries relationships with same-sex partners are illegal and ‘punishable’ by imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Even in this country homophobia and resulting discrimination is still having an impact on the emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ people. Various research by Stonewall has shown that LGB people suffer more mental health problems than the general population. This is not as a result of their sexual orientation but due to bullying, harassment at work, rejection by family and poor attitudes of healthcare professionals. Levels of depression and suicidal thoughts are much higher amongst young people who have been bullied about their sexual orientation than those who haven’t. Three in ten bisexual women and two in ten lesbians have had an eating disorder compared to 1 in 20 (0.5 in ten) of the general population. 

That’s why Pride events are so important – as a vibrant display of our commitment to equality and human rights, a demonstration of support to those who might not currently enjoy those rights, an encouragement to be ourselves and to be open and tolerant to people who are different to us. All these things can help to create a more accepting society where people do not feel that they have to hide who they are or feel ashamed about being different. The Pride campaign this year is #nofilter which is all about living our lives without having to censor or hide who we are. 

As part of the Comic Relief funded Stand Up! for emotional health and well-being project, we will be working with Iris Prize in the Community, the outreach programme of the international LGBT+ film festival based in Cardiff. An important aim of the Comic Relief grant is to tackle stigma and discrimination, especially for marginalised groups of people in society. In our case, this is people who are in a minority due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, who might be disproportionately suffering emotional distress for the reasons highlighted in the Stonewall research. We will have an opportunity to explore issues affecting well-being and to create our own short film, written, directed and performed by the group. We will then host a mini LGBT+ film festival. This is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate diversity right here in Powys.

If you would like to find out more or get involved in this part of our project, further details can be found on the Powys Mental Health website, or you can contact me by ringing 01597 822191 or emailing anne.woods@pavo.org.uk

The next Stand Up! for emotional health & wellbeing meeting takes place in Welshpool on Monday 26 September, 2 - 4pm, at Ponthafren Welshpool Outreach.