Harts and Craft - Diane's story

Diane Hart, volunteer and member at Ponthafren Association, a mental health charity in North Powys, writes our guest blog post this week. 

Hi! My name is Diane and I have been a member of Ponthafren for five years now.

When I first attended I was in a very bad place in my head, I couldn't see the point in anything. It has only been recently that I have been able to see a future. My Community Psychiatric Nurse thought it would give me something to do and a reason to carry on.

For a very, very long time I was very shy. At first I just hid behind the laptop, which as a member I had use of, and I only spoke to people when I was spoken to. I still hide behind it sometimes but it is more of a safety blanket rather than a protective shield.

Slowly over time I joined in some art and craft classes which gave me a reason to attend Ponthafren. Back then they were not accredited so the number of people who attended didn't matter, which was a good thing because there were not many who were interested in learning how to make felt, or silk painting. Gradually I joined in other classes like sugar craft where I learnt to make edible flowers. The classes eventually became accredited and I now have three certificates for sugar craft.

Around that time I also joined an adult literacy class. Not that I had a problem reading or writing, but the tutor said he would help with interview skills and confidence building. Well, it did some good because my tutor asked me to give a ten minute talk to the other members on how my art and craft classes were helping me, which I did, and this became the first of many.

Because of my talk a very special lady, who became my friend, saw me and asked me to join the committee of Powys Mental Health Alliance. I did this for a couple of years before other commitments and ill health stopped me from carrying on.

Then, because of changes going on at Welshpool Ponthafren, classes stopped for a while and I found things very hard to cope with. I was having a bad time when someone from Newtown Ponthafren called me and asked if would I like to join a class they had there. I thought they said Arts and Crafts, but what they actually said was Art and Design. I was told that if they couldn't get the numbers up the class would have to stop. I knew how important classes were to me and I felt for the people in the group so I immediately said yes. 

Needless to say I had a very big shock when I realised my mistake. I was not only nervous attending a new place and meeting new people but to find out the course I had agreed to was a Level Two BTEC in Art and Design and they were already six weeks into it. I thought it wouldn't be too much of a problem as there were only a few weeks left. The other courses I attended only lasted ten weeks. I was reassured that I would be OK - I had an advantage over the other girls as I had a painting portfolio under my belt so I could use this as part of my work. I told my teacher at the time that I knew nothing about art but again I was reassured and I decided to stay.

Perhaps if I had known then it was going to take 18 months I might have thought differently. I am glad I didn't know as it was a challenge but one I am pleased I met.

After a few weeks the teacher left and the new lady did things differently which at the time I found difficult but over time I warmed to her. Esther Thorpe opened my eyes to appreciate art. Even if I didn't like the style, I learnt to understand and appreciate it. With Esther's encouragement I have experimented in different techniques of painting and drawing. Recently I have dabbled in sculpture which I not only found therapeutic but I found I wasn't bad at it. So, over the last couple of years, I have mounted up thirty four certificates so far.

Apart from the BTEC the others were ten week courses of card making, calligraphy, pottery, sculpture, painting, drawing, paper flower making, and jewellery making with recycled paper. I also attended computer classes to refresh my skill and learn new skills like digital photography and playing with my pictures on the computer.

A couple of years ago I also started my own class where I teach others arts and crafts in Welshpool Ponthafren, putting to good use what I have learnt. 

I have also had the pleasure of working with an artist painting a mural celebrating 60 years since the last commercial steam train went through Welshpool. This is up for posterity and although not many know I had a big hand in it my friends know and I now have the confidence to point it out to people at the side of Welshpool Library.

Last year I attended a 4 day course which, apart from my BTEC, was one of the hardest courses I attended. It was not that the work was hard but I wasn't sure of myself. However, now I am a volunteer support worker at Welshpool Ponthafren and I know it was the right thing to do, for not only is it giving me the confidence to socialise I am attending more courses to help me become a better support worker.

I am still attending classes teaching and volunteering and I am now the chair person of a small volunteer group called Meeting Point Montgomeryshire. Last month I also joined a creative writing and poetry group. I have already had some of my work published, so who knows what the future holds. I am also helping to make things for the Welshpool Carnival next year. This is not connected to Ponthafren but through Ponthafren I met people who asked me to get involved with outside interests. In a way though it has everything to do with them because it was through them and other agencies that I feel able to do what I do. Even though some days all I want to do is crawl up in my bed and stay there having responsibilities and reasons to get out of bed has been a literal life saver.

Throughout July this year I did probably the hardest thing I have ever done and that was to go to shops in Newtown and Welshpool canvassing for money for charity. I had pledged to shave my hair all off to raise money and in doing so I raised £700.00.

I still have bad days but, as my CPN says, we all have blips and if we can see them as that they don't seem so dreadful. All I know is, five years ago I wouldn't have dreamt of being able to write what I have written, never mind see myself doing what I have done, for I saw no future for myself.

So I would like to say a big thanks to Ponthafren for all the help they have given me over the years and a big thanks for not seeing my visual and physical disability as a problem to becoming a volunteer.

And to you reading this - I hope it helps you to see a more positive future, for if I can do it so can you. I think life can be like climbing a mountain. It looks impossible but if you only look at one step at a time before you know it you have reached the summit. Don't worry if you slip a few times. I did many times. It’s not the slipping that matters, it's the getting up that counts.

Blessed be - Diane.

Many thanks to Diane for sharing her story with us. If you would like to tell us your story, then please get in touch.

Find out more about the activities taking place at Ponthafren Association, including Diane's Hart & Craft classes.

Photos of Diane's art and craftwork courtesy of Diane Hart.

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.

More Harm Than Good

A couple of weeks ago our guest blogger, Anne Watmough, went along to this London conference - More Harm Than Good: Confronting the Psychiatric Medication Epidemic, organised by the Council for Evidence Based Psychiatry (CEP). The CEP website reports: "Global leaders in the critical psychiatry movement met for a one-day conference to address an urgent public health issue: the iatrogenic harm caused by the over-prescription of psychiatric medications." Anne kindly sent in a review of her experience of the day - read on.

I set out on Thursday the day before the conference at 9 o'clock in the morning and boarded the bus direct to London. My journey took five and a half hours. But I didn't mind as the coach was very comfortable.

I arrived at my small hotel to find my room cosy and spotlessly clean. I had a nice meal that evening at a Moroccan restaurant on King Street.

The next morning I rose early and went out to have a full English breakfast at a nice cafe. Where the chips were delicious. I allowed myself to eat this food because I was a traveller.

Then I took a taxi to Whiteland College, part of Roehampton University, over Hampstead Bridge.

I arrived to an empty auditorium - one of the very first people to get there. Then two women came to sit down beside me. These remarkable women both had sons like myself affected by psychiatry and psychiatric medications.

Amy, a most young looking natural blonde lady despite all of the transgressions her life has held, explained she was prescribed psychiatric medications whilst she was pregnant with her son. He was born handicapped and she has had his lifetime to regret what happened to her when she was most vulnerable and carrying him inside her.

She has devoted her life to caring for him.

The second woman I met was Jemima and she explained how she was fighting for her son who had had a bicycle accident when young. He was left disabled and in a wheelchair. She felt that when he was prescribed psychiatric medication his disabilities were made worse. How horrendous for a woman whose son was disabled for her to watch him become more disabled due to side effects of medication that is supposed to keep him healthy.

I listened to the wonderful speaker Peter Gotzsche and how he is fighting for the rights and care of people like myself. To keep us free!

There were several speakers who were educated renowned men.

But one of the speakers who most impressed me was the renowned American journalist Robert Whitaker. He wrote "Mad in America" and "Anatomy of an Epidemic". He has researched and investigated psychiatry and psychiatric medications. And the drug industry. He has a website - Mad in America - and his work is also on this along with that of other people. The epidemic of labelling and drugging is rife in America and also in Europe. More and more people suffering from normal emotional problems are sent to their GPs who go on to prescribe medications like anti-depresssants or refer them to a bio-psychiatrist. These medications do more harm then good. This award-winning journalist can be found also on YouTube.

The main speaker, and a man I totally am devoted to, was Dr. Peter Breggin. He came through from America on Skype. He couldn't attend because his wife Ginger was unwell and he felt he had to be by her side. He gave his talk and as I expected the audience gave him a rapturous applause.

Then he was up for some questions. I was the first to put up my hand to speak. The sound effects were an issue on that day and at first he couldn't hear me but I managed to speak loud enough and clear enough so my question could get through.

First, and this is the first time I ever had a chance to speak to him, I wanted to tell him I have read his books. "Toxic Psychiatry", "Your Drug May be Your Problem", "Withdrawing off Psychiatric Medications" are just a few of his wonderful writings. I have his latest book in front of me -  "Guilt, Shame and Anxiety" - which I think is his best book yet. My favourite being "The Psychology of Freedom" which he wrote in 1980 when my son was born. Which makes it 35 years old. Somehow my question got through to him despite the sound situation. And he answered me giving me hope about my own current brain damage.

Dr. Breggin has been a psychiatrist working in New York for 61 years. He started at the young age of 18 at Harvard University and went on to train. He never prescribes medication or sends off his patients to be incarcerated. He has never had a suicide on his books.

Which in my opinion makes the man incredibly remarkable.

After the joy of speaking to Dr. Peter the conference went on with the panel and people asking questions.

I am afraid my anger got the better of me on that day although I passionately expressed myself and did keep it in check. It is recorded on YouTube under the title of this article.

My son I feel has been damaged by psychiatric medications. And that they stirred in him mania which he may not have suffered from if given talking therapy which was suited to what ailed him emotionally at the time he was in crisis.

I have been in therapy these past two years and I feel I will never have another psychotic episode.

I became aware at the conference of the wonderful Sandra Breakspeare and her dream of starting up a farm called Chy-Sawel in St. Ives, Cornwall. Chy-Sawel is Cornish for ‘House of Health giving.' Sandra's son is incarcerated as we speak and has been in an institution over these past ten years. Which without a doubt makes this remarkable woman even more amazing.

This is an alternative to medication and is the way forward and will help millions. Anyone interested can find details online. Please do all you can to promote this.

I am also aware of Open Dialogue Therapy which is curing, with a 86% result, people who are suffering from first diagnosed psychosis. This is the way forward also. This nursing approach by psychiatrists and psychologists and trained nurses has been working in Lapland, Finland these past 20 years. It is slowly being introduced to the NHS in this country. Sandra is embodying this into her farm. Which is a non-profit making charity.

Open Dialogue UK is holding a conference next February in London. Anyone who wishes to attend can find details online.

I would say that not only has my therapy been a way forward to recovery for myself but attending this conference has also been life changing.

Simply Google Dr. Peter R Breggin psychiatrist, Robert Whitaker American journalist psychiatry, Open Dialogue Therapy Lapland Finland and Chy Sawel. And you will find these people.

Anne Watmough

Many thanks to Anne for telling us about this interesting day. If you want to find out more, you can watch videos of the event on the CEP YouTube channel.

Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Rekindle's Small Steps Project

Rekindle's young people, trustees and staff with Lord Alex Carlile for the summer relaunch

Kemal Keeble is the Recovery Practitioner at the mental health charity Rekindle based in Newtown, North Powys. I went to meet him, his colleague Diane Williams, and some of the young people they work with a few weeks ago at their lovely new premises at Market Street. Kemal runs the Small Steps Project at Rekindle, so he and the young people have now worked together to produce this guest blog post for us.

Some weeks ago I was asked if Small Steps would like to post a blog on the Powys Mental Health blog site run by the mental health team at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO).

The idea being that we could get some of the young people we are involved with actively writing about their own experiences of mental health and their own roads to recovery. That we might write a little introduction to our service, the things we do, and explain how what we do aids the community we live in. So here I am today putting those words into action!

A little about Rekindle and “The Small Steps Project”………

Rekindle is a small charity that was initially set up some years ago as an intervention service for people who are struggling with mental health. In June 2013 Rekindle's thinking was that the Small Steps Project would restart concentrating on work with 16 – 25 year olds in the Montgomeryshire catchment area. In June 2015 Small Steps moved to new premises on Market Street and has developed into a community hub for the young people we support. 

To coincide with this move we held a celebration at The Elephant and Castle on Saturday 11th July 2015. It was a unique opportunity where organisations could meet Rekindle's trustees, staff,and young people. Lord Alex Carlile of Berriew CBE QC, Rekindle's patron and the guest of honour, attended. He gave an informative speech about the impact of mental health on his own family and why he helped set up Rekindle. Rekindle’s trustee Dr John Scott, Small Steps Project Coordinator Diane Williams, with myself gave a short presentation about the impact of mental health on our community. This was further brought home by a number of young people talking about their own experiences of mental health and how Small Steps had helped them on the journey to recovery.

What we do

At Small Steps we work with young people who are having difficulties. The first meeting can be a very worrying situation for someone who might have problems. We understand how challenging it can be for someone to build up the confidence to walk through our door, meet people they do not know, and then be able to talk about what it is that is causing them to feel at a low ebb. Young people can struggle due to being socially isolated or not having the confidence to meet new people. We often tell them how it’s OK to bring someone along for moral support on the first meeting.

In some of the work we do we can find ourselves mediating and representing clients on a whole variety of matters, for example -  support with benefits, estrangement, appointee duties, anti-social behaviour, appropriate adult, advocacy, physical and mental health, doctors' appointments and various assessments.

Our support means that people in the age group of 16 – 25 can access help and have however much time they need to work through any issues they may have. It means that they are open to our service for what could be many years should they need help. It is a core reason that Small Steps was set up initially as an early intervention service so that young people can understand they do not need to rely on services all their lives, that they can manage their own wellbeing and gain the valuable skills they need to function independently in our community.

At Small Steps we are all about being reactive to our client’s needs, empowering young people to succeed and move up in the world.

Over the past year we have often listened to what our clients have spoken about and also challenged them to try new and different things. We have found this to be a real turning point in our young people’s lives. They have met new people, and made new friendships and self-discoveries along the way. Some of the activities we have run include - photography expeditions to local places of interest, badminton, football, and Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Not to mention sponsored walks. The response from our young people has been that they do like being able to have time out from their normal everyday lives as it gives them new experiences and more enthusiasm for what happens locally in Montgomeryshire.

"Mountains" - by a young person involved in the Small Steps Project

"I am an 18 year old living in Newtown! To everyone else I come across as an always happy, bubbly person. However, even people like this may only be acting. I am on the road of recovery so I am very lucky but I only have achieved this by pushing myself and coming to Small Steps which was the best thing I ever did.

My life has been and is a journey just like anyone else’s just there has been mountains for me to climb. At first I found them too high but it didn’t stop me and it shouldn’t stop anyone else either. I now have to keep climbing these mountains and yes, even now some mountains may grow in front of me, trying to stop me on my path, but I know the best thing for me to do is not let it knock me back or put me down just climb it. I’m not saying it will be easy but with the right support and positive thinking it is possible. I know positive thinking is very hard as I struggle myself to keep positive but I know I am getting the support I need to work on this with Small Steps and anyone else that needs help should go to them too. So no matter how big or small your mountains are you can climb them and get to the other side of them. To cope with these mountains I find things to do such as:

• Drawing.
• Singing.
• Covering my walls in happy quotes to look at when I wake up.
• Also the main one - surrounding yourself with positive people."

Small Steps Project update

We have recently been nominated for the Powys Business Awards and have got through to being finalists. Part of being a finalist was to have a production company make a short film about Small Steps on 19th August 2015. 

Filming day at Rekindle's Newtown premises

All at Rekindle are now waiting in anticipation for this year’s fiercely fought “charity category”. The Judges' decision is due to be announced live at the Powys Business Awards Ceremony Dinner on Friday 25th September 2015.

UPDATE: Rekindle's Small Steps Project won the Social Enterprise/Charity category of the Powys Business Awards on Friday 25 September 2015. Congratulations!

Kemal told me: "We are very honoured to have won and feel it is positive recognition in raising awareness of the good work that is ongoing throughout Montgomeryshire by The Small Steps Project. Hopefully now we will be able to secure the financial funding we need to continue to support Montgomeryshire's young people as they are potentially our future here in Powys."

Kemal & Diane receive the Powys Business Award
from Mid Wales Housing Association

Many thanks to Kemal and all at Rekindle for telling us about their work. If you are a young person reading this, what do you do to help cope with your "mountains"? Tell us in the comments box below.

What’s on your plate?

What indeed! Well, I could get started here because my car failed its MOT for the second time in a fortnight yesterday, we’re temporarily short-staffed in the team for a number of reasons and the damp problem in my living room is showing no signs of going away anytime soon…

Michelle Longhurst

But less on the current lows in my life, and back to the meat of this post. What’s on your plate? is the brilliant name given to a relatively new support service run by the mental health charity Ponthafren Association. There are weekly Wednesday sessions at Welshpool (5 - 6pm), whilst in Newtown they are on Mondays (6 - 7.30pm). Earlier today I spoke to Michelle Longhurst, who is the Welshpool Outreach Resource Facilitator, to find out more.

Michelle explained that members of Ponthafren Association now have an opportunity to take time out and talk about specific areas of their lives that they may be struggling with. Tracy Fletcher, a counsellor at Ponthafren, set up What’s on your plate? during the summer months. Michelle has been helping her and will soon be running some of the sessions herself. 

It’s an intriguing mix of group and individual sessions that seems to be working well. 

Participants use the Wheel of Life tool during group sessions to look at any of the following 12 areas: physical wellbeing, achievements & successes, contentment, work & school, friendship, emotional health, energy & enthusiasm, self-esteem, fun & recreation, home & family, relationships and money & finances.

According to the paperwork accompanying the Wheel of Life, it is: “a tool that many life coaches use to help their clients see how balanced the various areas of their life are. Life’s activities are always shifting and so perfect balance cannot be achieved and maintained, but there are times when one area of your life may be requiring so much energy and time that other areas are suffering, and you feel your life is out of balance or even out of control. At these times, it helps to take a look at the big picture and to get some perspective.”

Tracy Fletcher

Each person is asked to mark themselves on a scale of 1 – 10 on how they see themselves doing in each area of their lives. If they have given themselves a low score for any particular area, then this is further discussed within the group. If required participants can then take advantage of a 10 minute session with a counsellor to follow this up in more detail.

Michelle went on to explain that during the first few weeks the What’s on your plate? sessions have focused specifically on work and education. Participants have discussed resitting GCSEs, writing CVs and looking for employment. They then invited staff from the Job Centre to join them at a later session and chat about CV and interview skills. Michelle said: “There is no pressure to join in, but people find the group setting really helpful for sharing ideas and tips.”

Over the next few weeks the main topic will switch to relationships including friendships. A walking group is also planned, plus a focus too on issues around food. People are often signposted to other courses or groups that can provide support, or ideas are generated for new activities altogether. Ponthafren Association has been quick to respond. Whats on your plate? participants recently identified a need for cooking classes and these are currently in the process of being organised.

A new singing group is also a possibility. Joining in this activity would meet many of the aspirations of the Wheel of Life, including "feeling full of energy and experiencing life to the fullest", and "sharing common interests, experiences and feelings". With luck those involved will also learn enough Christmas carols in the lead-up to the festive season to be able to fundraise for Ponthafren with their singing events!

Feedback for ‘What’s on your plate?’ September 2015

“I found what’s on your plate helpful because it was good getting tips from everyone and sharing advice in a group. The advice was really helpful; the conversation about self-confidence gave me more tools to use and helped me feel better about myself. I found it very interesting and I feel we should continue doing it as there are a lot more things we can discuss and learn from each other."  GL

“Since I have attended the sessions, I have benefited from them as they have helped me enquire to the Job Centre about relevant courses to help me find employment and GCSE resits.To be honest I think the sessions are great and helpful.”  MC

“My experience of the course was that it helped me to understand what to concentrate on to improve on, and being aware of the improvement with the use of the wheel of inventory. It was also valuable that we had the lady from the job centre for advice when you have been out of employment for a long time and on what to put down on the CV for this.”  AP

What’s on your plate? sessions are held every Wednesday, 5 – 6pm, at Ponthafren’s Outreach Centre in Welshpool, and also at the Newtown Centre, Mondays 6 - 7.30pm. If you would like to find out more about joining Ponthafren Association (it’s only £2 a year) and taking part, check out the charity’s website.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day across the globe. The theme in this 13th year of the Day is “Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives.”

The issue of suicide is as relevant in Powys as it is anywhere else in the world. In speaking to police officers in the local Dyfed Powys force recently I was made aware that the incidence of attempted suicide and self-harm in the county has been rising over recent months. Police officers are often the first emergency services on the scene in crisis situations, along with those from Health. Here in our team we provide an Information Service, not a Crisis Helpline such as Samaritans or C.A.L.L.Helpline, but nevertheless we are still occasionally called or met by people who are extremely distressed and tell us that they want to kill themselves.

According to the Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report 2015: Male suicides in Wales rose by 23% between 2012 and 2013, and rates are significantly higher than those in England since 2010. The BBC wrote more about these statistics here.

The question has to be asked, why are more people feeling so desperate about the quality of their lives that they consider suicide? The Samaritans Report states: 'The causes of suicide are complex, and we need to encourage people to seek help before they reach a crisis point'.

It seems appropriate then, on World Suicide Prevention Day, to flag up some of the resources and services that are available to people at risk of suicide and those close to them. First, though, a bit about the organisation which established the Day originally.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) was founded in 1960 and is: ‘dedicated to preventing suicidal behaviour, to alleviate its effects, and to provide a forum for academicians, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors’.

The President of IASP, Professor Ella Arensman, introduces us to World Suicide Prevention Day with the words: “Every year over 800,000 people die by suicide (around the world)…. We now know that for many people who survive a suicide their main intent was not to die but to have a different life. This important insight should encourage all of us to become more proactive, to reach out and to support people improving their quality of life.”

Resources

Samaritans provide a helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And you can find more about the local Brecon & Radnor branch here.

C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service . Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service.

NHS Choices has a very useful webpage on Offering support to someone who’s feeling suicidal. It starts off: “One of the best things you can do if you think someone may be feeling suicidal is to encourage them to talk about their feelings and to listen to what they say”.

The charity Mind has a range of information on its website relating to suicide, including sections about Suicidal feelings and Creating a support plan to use if someone is feeling suicidal.

Author Matt Haig wrote a blog post last year about the time when he nearly killed himself aged 24. It’s called REASONS TO STAY ALIVE.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation which exists to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide.

The BBC has on online guide called How do we talk about teen suicide?

Further information

In July 2015 the Welsh Government published its Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategy for Wales 2015-2020 - Talk to me 2. There are 6 priority actions, including:

• The development and delivery of a Wales framework for the training of professionals, individuals who frequently come in to contact with people at risk of suicide and self harm, and the general public.
• To promote staff awareness and improve staff knowledge of where to go for help and support through workplaces.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is run occasionally in different parts of Wales. It is a 2 day skills building workshop which prepares caregivers of all kinds to provide suicide first aid interventions. There are courses in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in November 2015, February, May & August 2016.

If you are urgently looking for help and advice in Powys there is a summary of the main contacts on our Powys Mental Health website.

If you have further suggestions for help and support for people feeling suicidal, then please add in the comments box below.

Finally, there is further research being carried out which aims to understand more about suicide and what can be done to prevent it. If you are interested, find out more about The Quest Study, which has been commissioned by Samaritans and undertaken by psychology researchers at Middlesex University and the University of Westminster.

Comedy and Wellbeing - Havin’ A Laugh Project

by guest author, Owen Griffkin

Gein's Family Gift Shop

There’s an old saying which goes -  "Laughter is the best medicine." There’s also a joke, which is nearly as old, which retorts, "Unless you are diabetic, and then it’s insulin".

I was a stand-up comedian for a good while back in the last millennium, and now I produce a host of comedy nights in and around the Mid Wales area and I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with this adage, having seen first hand the benefits of a ‘right good b%***y laugh’.

Anyone with any experience of mental health issues knows that laughter is a wonderful way to feel better as it decreases our stress hormones, produces endorphins and increases memory, alertness and learning.

It’s for this reason that I have been working with the Wyeside Arts Centre, the Arts Council of Wales, and the Garfield Weston Foundation on a pilot project right here in Powys to help build confidence, improve mental wellbeing and break down some of the stigma attached to mental health issues.

I had the idea after holding workshops for the recent DIY Futures project and again with Powys Mental Health Information Service. The workshops comprised of simple and quick word play and story-building exercises, which had the participants finding new ways to share experiences in a safe environment. These were a lot of fun and there was huge interest in a longer-term project.

Participants on Owen's Laughter Workshop
Individuals' Forum Day, Caersws, April 2015

Finally after consultation and planning the idea has finally come to fruition (hooray!) in the form of the ‘Havin’ A Laugh’ project and we will be running some taster workshops this October. This will lead on to the main part of the project in early 2016 which will consist of 4/5 more in-depth sessions.

The project will be led by James Meehan and Kiri Pritchard McLean, two of the team behind ‘Gein’s Family Giftshop’ - a deliciously dark sketch show group who have just had a mini-series produced on BBC Radio Wales, and appeared in an episode of the ‘Inside No.9' programme on BBC 2. They have been nominated for most of the major comedy awards over the last two years and we couldn’t ask for anyone better to be heading up this project.

The sessions will be suitable for anyone from any background, of any age and physical ability.

There won’t be any pressure to perform and the focus will be on looking at your stories in a new way, confidence building, and, most importantly, having a laugh and enjoying ourselves.

There will be an OPEN TASTER at Wyeside Arts Centre on Wednesday 14th October from 1:00 - 4:30pm which is open to all and is a great way to see what you can gain from the project.

For more information or to book a place please email owengriffkin@gmail.com

UPDATE!!

The Open Taster at Wyeside Arts Centre is no longer going ahead. However, there are three other Havin' A Laugh workshops taking place which are open to all:

Tuesday 13 October - 1 - 4pm & 5.30 - 8.30pm

The Wellbeing Centre, Mid Powys Mind, Llandrindod Wells

Thursday 15 October - 2 - 4pm

Wesley Church Centre, Hospital Road, Builth Wells