Glorious Gardens From Above: BBC TV @ Ponthafren

This Autumn the glorious terraced garden which is managed by a team of devoted volunteers at the mental health charity Ponthafren Association, Newtown, will feature on a new BBC TV programme called Glorious Gardens From Above. 

TV/radio gardener and horticulturist Christine Walkden spent the summer journeying across the British Isles in a hot air balloon. From this striking new perspective she flew across the country calling in at some of the most beautiful gardens on her way. The new programme is not just about gardens, but people's relationships with gardens. Ponthafren's garden was chosen to represent the community garden category in the episode focusing on Mid Wales.

I met the BBC producer/director Will Ridgeon and his colleague Helen Shields as they spent the day filming interviews of staff and volunteers at Ponthafren and touring the garden to find some of the best viewpoints. That was not difficult in a stunning garden cut into the steep hillside alongside the River Severn, with views overlooking not just the riverbank, but the town of Newtown opposite.

Nicky Morris (Centre Co-ordinator) began her interview by describing the layout of the garden. Starting at the top, there is a large fruit and veg patch, from which leads a long drystone wall. This is topped with herbs all the way down the sloping path to the sensory gazebo - one of several outdoor seating areas. Next is the sensory garden itself, which is stuffed full of different textured plants and grasses, and then alongside the riverbank is the wildlife walk. This incorporates a pond with a solar powered fountain and mass plantings of shasta daisies which blend perfectly with the natural vegetation of the riverbank. 

Each area has its own features, included topiary figures and sculptures made out of all manner of materials, including a recycled bath and washing machine innards! Iolo Williams opened the garden once the wildlife walk was complete and said it was ideal for wildlife - the dragonfly larvae had moved into the pond already!

Helen and Will then moved on to interview Ponthafren garden volunteer Jan Rogers – who is turning into something of a regular guest on this blog (she recently wrote – Volunteering whilst getting benefits and Mental Health Act 1983 – Code of Practice: the review (in England)). As Jan picked apples from a loaded tree, before moving into the greenhouse for tomatoes and cucumbers, she answered questions about how her involvement as a volunteer gardener at Ponthafren had impacted on her own wellbeing. She also spoke passionately about what she had gained from her experience – including increased confidence, new qualifications and the opportunity to work outside.

She explained that a variety of funders had contributed to the garden improvements over the years, including work to make the garden more accessible to all. In the last few years new raised beds and an extra greenhouse have been added, and also new seating areas. These projects are often planned, costed and built by the garden volunteers themselves, and there is a sense of huge achievement as each idea is brought to life.

Volunteers have been able to attend Coleg Harlech (now WEA Cymru) courses in Drystone Walling, Art & Design in the Garden, and Landscape Design, whilst completing various projects. Jan said "some of us were lucky enough to complete a 12 month Diploma in Horticultural based Progression (14 units including a wide range of topics from herbs, grafting, and seed collecting to writing business plans, to name a few). I personally would have never taken part in this type of course if it had not run at Ponthafren."

Jan heads up the team of garden volunteers at the Centre. Each volunteer chooses what area they want to work in, "one lady can't stand for long but she loves to sit and pot things on. We take a lot of cuttings, and the plants are put in our yard for people to buy which is our money to buy seeds, compost and tools for next year. This is the great thing with our garden, there is something for everyone. The only thing that I do insist on is that everyone enjoys it!"

Jan arrives with a basket full of veggies for an outdoor cookery demonstration.

Julia Gorman (Newtown Resource Centre Facilitator at Ponthafren) was then filmed with Ponthafren members preparing the vegetables Jan had gathered. Julia runs regular nutrition sessions at the Centre for members to attend and learn about food preparation and diet - she and some of the volunteers prepare healthy and tasty food for all to enjoy at the end of a session. 

Contrast this image with one taken about 15 years ago when volunteers started work at Ponthafren to transform the garden.

All in all everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day - though obviously Will and Helen were working non-stop throughout to film the best shots for the programme! We all noticed during the filming how often noises intrude to interrupt a session. Ponthafren garden always seems very peaceful, but on the day the BBC arrived a whole host of sounds came and went, including: squealing seagulls, bottle bank emptying across the river, workmen building a shed next door, motorbikes roaring along Milford Road, dogs barking and planes soaring high overhead. A tip for anyone wanting to get into the TV business: learn and practice patience as a key skill!

The new series Glorious Gardens From Above will now start broadcasting on Monday 10 November on BBC 1 at 3.45pm daily (please note change of broadcast date!)

There are 15 episodes in total. The Mid Wales episode, in which Ponthafren Association features, will transmit on Wednesday 12 November. It will also feature Powis Castle Gardens, and the Dingle Garden near Welshpool.

You can join a Drop-in Gardening session with Jan at Ponthafren Association 

every Wednesday and Friday 11am - 2.30pm.

Julia runs Foodwise sessions at Ponthafren Association every Thursday 2 - 3pm.

You can find out more here.

Hello, and welcome: Terrence Higgins Trust in Powys

A few weeks ago I found out that the Terrence Higgins Trust - the charity promoting a healthy and stigma-free life for people with HIV - had set up a Community Liaison and Participation Project in Powys.  People who have been diagnosed with HIV often experience stress, anxiety and depression, and can feel particularly isolated in a rural county like Powys. The Trust provides support and advice for them and also anybody affected by these issues, such as family members and partners. Andrea Taylor, Support Service Coordinator of the HIV and Hepatitis Action for Wales, kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her work for the Trust, and the support that is available.

Tell us more about the work you are doing

Our Community Liaison Project is a Wales-wide service which can help if you are living with HIV and/or viral hepatitis. We can help if you are feeling isolated or lonely by increasing your access to a wide range of services in the local area. We can also help with some of the day-to-day issues of living with HIV and/or viral hepatitis and how they impact on your life. We can also help if you would like to make your organisation more knowledgeable and welcoming people with these conditions.

What is HIV and Hepatitis Action Wales?

It is a Wales-wide service which can help with any aspect of living with HIV and/or viral hepatitis. If you have questions about your treatment, your test results or day-to-day issues such as employment, housing and welfare benefits we can help support you. We can also provide emotional support and counselling. All our services can be delivered on a face-face basis locally, by phone or via our online support services.

Why is there a need for your work?

Despite the huge progress in care and treatment for people living with HIV/HepC in the last three decades, reducing the stigma around HIV/HepC has taken longer and proven more difficult to address.

HIV is still a stigmatised illness and discrimination and prejudice remain issues of concern to people living with HIV. Fear of discrimination and actual experiences of injustice can have a profound effect on individuals mental health and self esteem, which in turn can have significant implications for society as a whole.

Stigma often prevents people being open about their condition and it inhibits the kind of open discussions that is needed to challenge society’s lack of knowledge and understanding about HIV/HepC.

How do you know about the ongoing stigma associated with HIV?

A 2010 survey found that 66 per cent of the public agree that there is still a great deal of stigma around HIV. A similar number also believe more needs to be done to prevent discrimination. However, general awareness and knowledge levels among the public can still be startlingly low. People living with HIV/HepC regularly report being treated badly, receiving poor service or being discriminated against because of their status. Sadly, a high level of discrimination still occurs within some organisations.

A 2008 survey of people with HIV in London found that one third of people encountered discrimination because of their HIV status. Of those reporting discrimination, half said it had come from a healthcare worker, one in four from a dentist, one in five from a GP and one in ten from hospital staff.

We have supported people who have been bullied, intimidated and even threatened with violence because of their condition. Stigma and prejudice can compromise people's personal relationships and fear of disclosure can prevent them getting the kind of basic support that other people living with long term conditions can expect from family and friends.

How does the stigma of HIV affect people’s emotional wellbeing?

The fear and isolation this creates can have a profound effect on a person’s physical and emotional health. In many instances, people living with HIV/HepC can require more support in dealing with the stress and anxiety caused by the stigma, than with the physical impact of the infection. Mental health and in particular depression is a common experience for people living with HIV and a 2012 study showed that one in four had a current depressive disorder. Despite these figures, depression is not an inevitable aspect of HIV infection, but it could be triggered if you feel anxious or uncertain about your future. It is possible that people living with HIV are suffering from depression without realising it.

What about discrimination against people with HIV seeking employment?

People living with HIV/HepC are often fearful of disclosing their status in employment or recruitment settings and many people face barriers to securing or remaining in employment as a result. Similarly, many people are reluctant to disclose in settings such as with their GP or dentist and this in turn compromises the level of support they can expect from public services.

The public sector is the UK’s largest employer, with the NHS the largest single employer, so it holds considerable potential to not only improve the delivery of services to people living with HIV/HepC, but to also increase HIV awareness and tackle discrimination.

What is happening in Powys and Ceredigion?

A great deal more could be done within the health service in particular in terms of training staff on HIV related stigma rather than focusing on simply HIV infection control. Our projects in Powys and Ceredigion involve working in partnership with people living with HIV and representative agencies. We will continue to fight to challenge HIV stigma and increase awareness in public services and within our community.

If you would like to speak to your local Terrence Higgins Trust support worker either to request training, arrange an appointment, or simply have a chat on how we might be able to support you, please contact:

Andrea Taylor, Support Service Coordinator - HIV and Hepatitis Action for Wales

 mobile: 07824 809 779 email: andrea.taylor@tht.org.uk

Joshua Hall, Community Liaison Project Manager - 
Community Liaison & Participation Project
tel: 02920 666 465  email: josh.hall@tht.org.uk

A visit from the Older People’s Commissioner Office

Earlier this summer Kate Hughes, who works as the Engagement Coordinator for the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, visited some of my colleagues at PAVO to find out more about our work. She later wrote a blog post about her visit for the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales’ website and with her permission we republish it here. In the post Kate highlights “some of the excellent work underway in Powys that is making a big difference to people’s lives.”

I visited Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) in Llandrindod Wells to spend the day with Freda Lacey, PAVO’s Mental Health Participation and Involvement Officer, and Barbara Perkins, their Community Voice Officer. They were keen to tell me about some of the outstanding work going on across Powys, supported by PAVO, which helps organisations and improves lives.

Powys is the largest county in Wales, covering a quarter of its land mass, but it is also the least sparsely populated with an average of 26 people per square kilometre. The result is a beautiful rural landscape with soaring mountains and acres of wilderness to explore. There are several population centres, including Newtown, Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells and Hay-on-Wye, but many people live in remote areas that are hard to reach. The result is a patchwork of services that cover the county and a real postcode lottery about what is available to you based on where you live. The Commissioner often talks about people being in the ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky box’ and where you live in Powys and whether you have easy access to transport, can be critical factors in determining which box you are in.

The importance of being able to access transport is highlighted by the fact that there are no District General Hospitals in Powys, so people often have to travel long distances and across borders for diagnosis and treatment. They also told me that older people whose spouses or partners are very ill in hospital often struggle to make the journey to Birmingham or Wrexham and that there have been reports of discharge in the very early hours and a lack of discharge planning.

Rural isolation is also a huge challenge as people often live at some distance from friends, family and community services. There have been projects set up to tackle this and to help support people’s mental health and wellbeing. Freda and Barbara had time to tell me about some of their favourites:

1. Mid Wales Food and Land Trust: Good Neighbour Project

This project helps people to do their shopping. Volunteers phone up to find out the items people need and let them know about special offers etc. They will then shop locally, deliver and unpack the items people have ordered.

2. Powys Mental Health Participation and InformationService

This is a wide-ranging service that has really helped service users to get involved in designing and delivering mental health services.

They bring services/(senior managers) and service users/carers together in local communities so they can discuss and resolve any problems, if possible, locally. This is a great example of using patient experience, rather than complaints, to drive improvement.

3. Powys Befrienders

This service focuses on people over 50 who are lonely, isolated and risk losing independence.  Volunteers work with people for up to a year and support them to become more involved in their communities. Once volunteers have been matched, they help people to identify groups and activities they want to try and support them to try out them out. They try to help people find social activities they can continue to enjoy long after their involvement has ended. This project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, and is running until October 2016.

4. Dementia Supportive Communities

There are a range of initiatives to help Powys become a more supportive place for people with dementia to live. Hay-on-Wye/Brecon  is trailblazing the way to implement Dementia Friendly Communities in Wales.  The aim is to help people and organisations in local areas to better support people with dementia. An example of some of the initiatives linked would be the Butterfly Scheme, which provides training in dementia care within hospitals and is based on the “Reach” programme.

Many thanks to Freda and Barbara for a fascinating day. I have just skimmed the surface of Powys in this blog, but I was struck by the range of innovative solutions people in Powys have found to providing services in such a challenging landscape. I would like to end with a final thought from the Commissioner, “"When we get it wrong, the price is never paid by the service, it's paid by the individual and is far too high".

The situation in Powys may be challenging, but it is heartening to see that so many people are trying to get it right.

Tell us what you think in the comments box below about some of the issues that Kate has raised in her blog post.

Mental Health Act 1983 – Code of Practice: the review (in England)

Jan Rogers, who recently wrote for us about Volunteering whilst getting benefits, has been playing a key role over the last few months in the review of the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice in England. This work is being led by the Department of Health and backed by the Minister for Health, Norman Lamb, you can read more about PAVO’s role in this work here. 

Jan was recently asked to speak about her experiences, as someone in contact with mental health services, at the Expert Reference Group reviewing the Code. With her permission we are publishing Jan’s talk as a guest blog post.

Hello, my name is Jan Rogers, I live in a small village not far from Newtown, Powys, Mid Wales. I am married and have been for nearly 36 years. I have 10 children although I did cheat a bit as my husband, Mike, had 4 children when I met and married him. Pre-1988 I lead a happy healthy “NORMAL” life. I used to do a lot of running, competitive and for fun, and also competed in a lot of different sports.

In 1988 a life changing traumatic event happened. Without going into detail, for a few years I pretended it never happened and it seemed to work but in 1992 “hell opened its trap door” and I fell in the most darkest place I had ever been.

I was diagnosed and labelled with "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome” and depression. The reality of it all and the issues I have had to deal with, and still do, day to day – are guilt, lack of self worth, failure to family and friends and society in general (although after I was labelled I didn’t seem to have as many friends), flashbacks, voices, hallucinations (even to the extent I can’t always tell if the people I am talking to are real or not).

When I an unwell I tend to pace backwards and forwards with my fist clenched usually talking to the people that others may not see. I feel that this is the only way to keep control and to stop them taking over. In the past people, police, doctors and other professionals, have perceived me as on drugs or alcohol and mistaken my pacing and keeping control as lack of control and a possibility of turning violent. Those that know me know I am not, and never have been, violent towards anybody.

This Code will better safeguard people, carers and others that could be effected by the Code’s use. With every meeting I felt more confident in myself, maybe even talked too much sometimes, and felt confident enough to reply to emails if I wished. To be honest I’m not sure if I have had any conversations with people that possibly weren't there and still don’t. But I have never felt or been made to feel uncomfortable about the issues I deal with or pitied, only ever thanked for being honest. It has been great to be accepted for who I am. I spoke earlier about feeling like a failure to society but it’s projects like this that water this feeling down. I would like to give my personal thanks to the support I have received from Freda (Lacey), Derek (Turner) and Jane (Powell) in making it possible for me to come and take part.

Can I just say before I bore everyone too much that I really appreciate being involved in this work and even though we are playing a small part in a bigger picture I feel things are moving forward for the better. As much as our lived experience view helps professionals I also feel it’s helping me on my journey to living instead of existing.

Inspector Brian Jones of Dyfed-Powys Police asked if I would go along to a meeting and talk about how I was treated by the police when I had been arrested whilst being unwell. From here I have been involved in a lot of different projects. I have not been in hospital for two years and four months and I believe a lot of this is down to my volunteering and being involved with different projects like this.

Passing on my lived experience gives me a purpose and an outlet for the HELL I live in sometimes, along with the support I have had from the staff at Ponthafren, PAVO and the Community Mental Health Team, and last but certainly not least, my “Mountain” (my hubby and family).

When Freda asked if I would like to put my name forward with a possibility of being a part of “The Expert Reference Group”, I said yes, and when she came back a short time later and explained that I had been accepted I was excited. Then panic set in. I started thinking what if I upset people by talking to people that nobody else could see? What if I couldn’t make out who was real and who wasn’t? I have in the past while doing a card making workshop spent 10 minutes showing an empty chair how to make decoupage cards and it wasn’t till I noticed the others looking rather confused that it dawned on me. Thinking quickly I said I was practicing, now I will move on to a real person, phew, my mum always said I was born in a knife drawer.

Another thing that was going through my mind….. As I said, I have been involved and gone along to quite a few different meetings and projects, but sadly there have been a few where they said they wanted input from people who use the services but I soon realised that actually it was more that they needed to tick a box to say that they had input from us. And I really felt as if I was invisible.

Between 1992 and now I have been arrested under the Mental Health Act and held on a Section 136 over 30 times. Every time I have ended up on a section and taken to hospital. I have been pepper sprayed, thrown in the back of a police van in a cage, held down in handcuffs over a wall, while the police officers spoke to their sergeant over the radio as to where they could take me (as the police have always thought that a cell is not the best place for people suffering mental health issues), stripped of my clothes in a police cell, bearing in mind to me the cell had between 15 and 25 people in it at any one time….

All this I believe was because of a lack of training and being unsure of what exactly to do with people struggling with mental health issues. Sometimes even a lack of understanding. It would have been interesting if any of the officers involved took any advice from the Mental Health Code of Practice! On the other hand when it has been officers that have known me, things were very different. They allowed me to pace instead of being forced and held down, spoke quietly and at a distance and even allowed me to have a fag.

After years of being in and out of hospital, cutting a long story short, I came into contact with Ponthafren Association, which is a resource centre for people with mental health issues or those that feel lonely or isolated. Through doing volunteering there and becoming part of the public relations group, I met Freda Lacey a lady that works for PAVO, (Powys Agency for Voluntary Organisations). Through Freda and PAVO I met Inspector Brian Jones from Dyfed-Powys Police force who chairs the Confidence and Equality Group meetings in Llandrindod Wells every quarter. There are representatives from several front line organisations.

Also maybe in some people’s eyes a serious problem, I listen constantly in one ear to 60s music as I found it’s the only way I can listen to a conversation with a real person as it quietens the voices a bit and helps me concentrate.

I remember the first time I came down to the Expert Reference Group, my stomach churning and brain spinning and the voices and extra people were worse than they had been for a while. When we all introduced ourselves and I explained the issues I deal with, voices etc, straight away I felt accepted for who I am - lock stock and barrel - and this meant so much to me it’s unexplainable in words really.

Well! From the time I got there it has been an extraordinary journey, from everyone’s attitude, explaining what it is all about, directions, travel and follow-on emails about the previous meetings, and future agendas. The meetings and discussions felt like they flowed, we all were able to give and were asked for our views. When the Minister and other professionals came along to some of the meetings, I felt it went well as we were all able to have a wider view of things. It felt so easy to put my point of view across and I personally felt very much listened to. To be able to play a small part in reviewing the Mental Health Code of Practice for England is unbelievable and a great personal journey and already leading to other things.

I feel I have learnt so much as when I first looked at the Code I was totally pickled but now I feel that, albeit a small step, the Code will be much easier for people who use the services, carers, and professionals to use and understand, as I’m sure a lot of the areas which were very grey and doubled up will be more understandable.

Many thanks to Jan for sharing her experiences of the review process with us. You might also be interested to read a blog post by Aimee Wilson about her experience of reviewing the Code of Practice. She was initially approached by a Youth Engagement Worker from Young Minds and asked to get involved.

Unconventional Wisdom: Beyond Medical - The Debate Continues (I hope) ...

Leaving PAVO and Ventures New

After 5 years of working within PAVO’s Mental Health Team and 10 years of working in the “mental health” field, in July 2014 I decided it was time to try and make my living in a different way, one that was outside of the mental health system and outside of the public sector.

I am opening a Micropub in Llandrindod Wells which is a whole other story (… one of craft real ales, conversation, bringing people together and other lovely things …). If you are interested you can find out more on twitter, look for @arvonales.

So why I am still writing a “mental health” blog?

Some of you may already be aware of my views on our mental health system and the ideas underpinning it from my previous posts. You can find some of these here. If so, you will know that they do not align with the conventional mainstream wisdom on this topic and although I am no longer working within mental health, my quest to find ways of highlighting the “beyond medical” debate to professionals, the public, people in contact with mental health services and those close to them continues.

I believe that basing our mental health system and public awareness campaigns on the illogical idea of “mental illness” is doing much more harm than good. This belief comes from personal and professional experience of mental health and my own 30 year quest for the truth about my brother’s “mental illness”.

“Here I stand. I can do no other.” Martin Luther

What’s the debate? The myth of mental illness and the harm that it is doing

I believe that the concept of “mental illness” is incorrect and illogical. That the thoughts, feelings and actions that we categorise as “symptoms” of “mental illness” are not that. That these thoughts, feelings and actions are instead a natural and normal response to the difficult things that happen to us.

I believe that basing our mental health services, policies, laws, treatments, responses and public health campaigns on this bad idea is leading to much more harm than good. That allowing this bad idea to underpin all of these things means that we start from the wrong place when trying to help ourselves and others.

That is a place that largely remains in the “let’s manage the symptoms” arena rather than one that asks “can we make sense of this”. A place that doesn’t always allow us to look first for any medical reasons for these symptoms (you can read my blogs on organic reasons for “depression” here and “psychosis” here).

“Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.”  
Benjamin Lee Whorf

What do I propose?

Well one thing is that I commit to continuing to write blog posts that highlight “What’s Hot?” in the beyond medical debate (…What’s Hot ?!?!?! - me trying to make the topic as interesting as I can).

I will also continue to use my personal twitter account @powysmh to present evidence that shows the invalidity of the idea of “mental illness” and that highlights the harm that this idea is having.

I know that I am not the only one in Wales wanting to see awareness of this debate raised and I would love to hear from you about what you are doing and any ideas you have about what else you think we could do.

So now it is up to you. Read or don’t read the blog. Follow me on twitter. Talk to me, contact me, challenge me, offer me words of support. I leave it to you.

Beyond Medical Debate. Where would I start from now?

As this is the first of these “round-ups” I want to start by highlighting just 2 links that are in my opinion a great place to start if you want to find out more about this debate. I hope you find them interesting and useful:

The Council for Evidence-based Psychiatry (CEP)   @cep_uk

• The purpose: To reduce psychiatric harm by communicating the latest evidence to policymakers and practitioners, by sharing the testimony of those who have been harmed, and by supporting research into areas where evidence is lacking.
• Where to start: Try the tabs at the top for a series of short videos on “Unrecognised Facts” and “Recovery Story”. Also find out more about the members of CEP here. One member, psychiatrist Sami Timimi, talked at a conference I organised earlier this year in Powys, you can find out more about this here.

Behaviorism and Mental Health    @BigPhilHickey 

An alternative perspective on mental disorders by Philip Hickey PhD.

• The purpose: To provide a forum where current practices and ideas in the mental health field can be critically examined and discussed.
• Where to start: Absolutely anywhere, this is a great site for exploring this debate. On the home page you will see a list of his posts and in my opinion they are all insightful, logical, thorough and interesting. There is a Tell Your Story page here and the Moderation Policy here is well worth a read.

Beyond Medical Debate. What’s Hot This Month? 

• Global Summit on Diagnostic Alternatives August 4th and 5th 2014 in Washington, D.C. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rethinking-psychology/201408/12-keys-mental-health-revolution
• Antipsychiatry and the antidepressants debate by Sami Timimi, Philip Thomas, James Davies and Peter Kinderman their letter of response to David Nutt and colleagues in letter to The Lancet. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(14)70297-4/fulltext
• The Psychiatric Epidemic - does long-term use of medication decrease the chance of recovery? Tweeted by @BeyondMeds · http://beyondmeds.com/2014/05/23/psychiatric-epidemic/ on Aug 13.
• Outcome Orientated Mental Health Foundation. Of specific interest to anyone working with children and younger people. http://oocamhs.com/index.php/resources/videos. Tweeted by @AnneCooke14 on Aug 13
• Trauma, Psychosis, and Dissociation by Noel Hunter Aug 6th http://www.madinamerica.com/2014/08/trauma-psychosis-dissociation/
• The Campaign to Repeal Mental Health Laws in US. Urging US Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), without reservations, understandings or declarations (RUDs) to prevent people from being deprived of their liberty, restrained, and treated against their will in the name of “psychiatric help”. https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/us-senate-ratify-the-un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-without-reservations-understandings-or-declarations-ruds
• Therapy Looking For Disease: A Special Tribute to Thomas Szasz. 1h 23mins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZgsxI3ZouU&index=67&list=PLA23EF81C730135CA …

Contact me (… fingers crossed …)? Laura Gallagher

To find out more you can follow me on twitter @powysmh.

You can comment below and I will respond.

You can email me at powysmentalhealth@gmail.com

Or find me on facebook here.

Fingers crossed that other people out there are also interested in finding out more about this this debate….

Introducing Mastermind - computerised CBT

Tanya Summerfield (left), an ICT (Information & Communication Technology) Project Manager at Powys teaching Health Board, is working to develop an innovative digital project to help support people experiencing depression in Powys. 

She is supported by her colleague Menna Reese (below), who is also helping to promote the roll-out of Mastermind in Powys.

We spoke to Tanya and Menna recently to find out more about Mastermind.

Tell us about your role at the health board 

To facilitate the implementation of two European Union projects, one of which is Mastermind, which is the introduction of the computerised Cognitive Behavior Therapy across Powys by November 2014.

What is the Mastermind Project?

The Mastermind Project aims to make high quality treatment for depression more widely available across Europe through the use of ICT. In Powys the software of choice is ‘Beating the Blues’ developed by Ultrasis.

What is cCBT? 

Computerised Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 

Tell us about the Powys pilot of the Mastermind project

The pilot aims to facilitate access to cCBT through purchasing licenses and training primary care mental health staff in its application along with provision of video conferencing facilities between ‘GP and Specialist Clinician’ or ‘Specialist Clinician and patient’. 

How do you think it will benefit people who may be experiencing mental distress or be depressed?

The Programme will only be available for people with a diagnosis of low to moderate depression and the benefit will be access to the cCBT in the patient's own home at their convenience.

What is particularly innovative about the project? 

The Programme focuses on how to improve the lives of service users and their families using a recovery and enablement approach through embracing technological advances to date and minimising the need to travel to treatment centres.

Why has the health board decided to offer this type of mental health services in Powys?

In recognition of the rural terrain and the ratio of the primary mental health practitioners to the population, funding was sought through the EU to pilot the scheme prior to it becoming mainstream. In this way, we will be able to make psychological therapies more widely available.

What kind of links is the health board making with mental health services in other European countries as a result of this work, and how could this be beneficial to people in Powys?

Sharing good practice and regularly monitoring reports shared across 11 European sites, taking advantage of networking opportunities sharing experiences.

When will the Mastermind service be made available and who will be eligible to access it and how?

The time schedule identifies November 2014 as the start date and the trial will run for 17 months. Eligibility will depend on the diagnosis of low to moderate depression by the general practitioner, primary mental health clinicians or secondary mental health service.

How does the project tie in with the aims of the Together for Mental Health (Welsh Government strategy) and Powys Hearts & Minds strategy?

Poor mental health and illness have a significant impact on individuals, society and the economy overall. Together for Mental Health (Welsh Government 2012) sets out the Welsh Government's ambitions for improving the mental health service and promoting better mental health wellbeing across the whole population. This project will widen the availability of psychological therapies.

If people want to find out more about the Mastermind Project, who can they contact?

The EU Project Office on 01874 712765 or email Tanya.Summerfield@wales.nhs.uk

Thank you Tanya and Menna for introducing us to the Mastermind Project in Powys. You can find out more about the Mastermind Project on the project website here, and also join the debate on Twitter here, or tell us what you think by commenting below.

Volunteering while getting benefits

The title of this blog post is also the title of a UK government guide which can be downloaded from the internet here. Quite simply it lays down the rules around volunteering whilst on benefits:

"If you’re getting State benefits, you can be a volunteer and, in nearly all cases, your benefits will not be affected. However, there are some cases where your benefits can be affected, for example, if you get a subsistence allowance or if you’re doing what someone else would normally be paid for."

And yet people who are receiving benefits are sometimes made to feel – by society, by people they know, by workers at the Job Centres they attend - that if they are able to volunteer then of course, they should also be able to work.

Jan Rogers receives benefits and volunteers for the mental health charity Ponthafren Association at the organisation’s centre in Newtown. She is not in paid employment at this time. She wanted to share with a wider audience the value of volunteering to her.

Without going into detail of what, why and where, I will just say, when I first became unwell, I could see NO way out. Well, in fact, I did find a way out and that was to end “it”. To put a stop to the hassle and grief I was causing to my family.

Sometimes I think I functioned quite well in the sense that food was always on the table and the house and children were always clean, at least when they left the house. But I wasn’t living, it was existing - going through the motions. When my husband was in work I would quickly do housework and what I needed to do and then hide. Sometimes I would lie under the bed all day watching the clock so that I would be out in time to cook tea and pick the children up. This was harder when I had younger children so I used to draw the curtains and sit and interact with the children hoping that they would not pick up on how I was feeling. This worked for a few years but every time one of the children called me “Mum” I cringed.

One day Hell had just opened its doors. I went from a person who was out going and enjoyed life to almost becoming a recluse. Although I made sure the children and hubby were fed and looked after, I was sinking into a dark, dark world. I did not bathe or eat until I was so light headed I couldn’t function. My husband gave up his job and although he was amazing he was looking for answers to the complete change in a person, which to him had happened “moreorless overnight”.

I was regularly taken to hospital and sectioned and stays varied from one to three months in the early days. As time went on, with my husband’s and family’s support, and the help of the Community Mental Health Team, I was able to function slightly better, but each day was a struggle for us all. Sometimes I would leave the house and seem and feel okay, drop the children off at school but then, a dark cloud would surround me and I had no idea where I was or who I was. My husband would phone the police after looking, sometimes all night, and I would be back in hospital on a section.

I felt my life was over and although I was lucky in a sense that I had a great supporting family, this in one way was making me feel more guilty as I was letting them down and just causing more grief to the people that were at my side and holding me up. 

Jan in the garden at Ponthafren

All I kept thinking was why, why, why?

About six or seven years ago, I took my youngest sons to football practice. I was standing on my own, not really wanting to get into a conversation with people. There was a woman there, who I did not know, she seemed to be in charge of the football sessions. I remember the day well as it was windy, cold and raining, real football weather. The lady came across and introduced her self as Nicky Morris and explained that she was chair of the junior football club, Newtown Whitestars.

We got chatting and this was the first time I had really trusted anybody outside my family. I felt I could talk to her as if I had known her for a lifetime. Nicky went on to explain that she was Co-ordinator of Ponthafren Association , which was a registered charity for people with mental health problems. She suggested I pop in for a chat and see what Ponthafren had to offer for me. I was always very much into my sport, gym and running as well as a very keen gardener.

I went along to Ponthafren with my hubby and met up with Nicky and Jane and chatted. I said I would love to come along to the centre but needed a purpose. Nicky suggested volunteering for a couple of hours a week to go along with people to the gym. So, this is what I did. Mike was always outside at least half an hour before I was due to be picked up as he was very worried.

Over quite some time, I was volunteering more hours and even though some days I would not go in as I was feeling unwell, generally I felt a small sense of achievement. As time went on Mike was feeling more relaxed and able to take a step back. He too then became a volunteer at Pont. I think we sometimes forget about the person that has cared and carried someone with mental health illness for such a long time and almost expect them to pick up where they left off in a sense. This is not reality as when Mike gave up his job he gave up his “Life”, in the sense of friends, associates and a social life.

At Ponthafren I can be myself, I don’t have to pretend at all. If I want to smile I can, but at the same time if I don’t feel like smiling or putting on a face for people, then I don’t feel like I have to.

Some of the things I deal with every day and night:

• Sense of worthlessness.
• Scrounger to society/tax payers as I should be working.
• Sense of letting my family and friends down.
• Voices.
• Hallucinations, to the degree of bathing in shorts and tee shirt and dressing inside a large robe that is zipped up the front, from my neck to the floor. 
• Not sure if I’m having a conversation with real people or not.

Some of the things I feel and have partly gained by volunteering are:

• Self worth.
• Confidence.
• Self-belief.
• Passion for believing in my principles and beliefs and the fact that they do count.
• Helping my family understand my “illness”.
• Helping “ME” understand my “illness”.
• Being “Who” I am, and most of the time thinking, “others will have to accept me as is”.

I have been nominated and won awards but although I am very grateful for being put forward and gaining these awards I personally (it has taken me years to accept praise and to be honest, deep down, I still cringe even though I smile) feel that these awards I accept are on behalf of every volunteer I know. This, I feel, is how I am able to accept them.

Why do I volunteer?

At the moment I don’t think I would be able to cope with employment. I’m not sure it would be fair on an employer or me. I have never and never will be happy with myself drawing benefits but volunteering goes some way for me to prove my worth to Government, Job Centre, tax payers. I have received, and continue to do so, so much help from Ponthafren – and this is one thing I can do to part pay back for all I receive.

I volunteer in the garden because I am a keen gardener and others get so much out of the garden at Ponthafren. Some people have no garden or in fact a seating area. With volunteering, if somebody asks me to do something, I do not have a problem asking them to write it down if I’m not sure what they said and they don’t mind doing this. As an employee, this would not be okay.

Basically I volunteer because I can. I have failed so much over the years, in most aspects of my life. Volunteering, I feel I do not fail at all. Maybe I can make a difference to someone else!!!!

‘Volunteering’ = Coping , Living, Surviving, so really it is NOT Volunteering in my Mind or Heart !!!!!!

Thank you, Jan, for sharing your volunteering story with us. If you would like to find out more about volunteering, contact the Powys Volunteer Centre which is managed by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations.

Are you on benefits? Do you volunteer? Tell us about your experiences in the comments box below.