A new initiative has been launched at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Hergest Unit to highlight the range of community support available to people in North Wales who are living with serious mental health problems.
The aim of the Agencies Coming Together (ACT) project is to help patients identify activities, groups and support organisations within their own communities which can help them to continue to look after their mental health once they are ready to go home.
The collaboration between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, community groups and local mental health charities is being facilitated by the North Wales mental health development agency, Unllais.
A launch event, organised and facilitated by Unllais, was recently held at the Hergest Unit which saw over 40 different organisations showcase the support that they are able to provide.
Patients and staff were given information about housing, benefits and educational opportunities, as well as details of sport, craft and activity groups in their local area.
Speaking at the launch, Alison Parry, Modern Matron on the Hergest Unit, said: “Once discharged from hospital it’s really important that people with mental health problems have a structure and routine so they can continue to look after their mental health away from a hospital environment.
“By encouraging patients to get involved in different community groups and activities we aim to increase their confidence and self-esteem, develop supportive relationships in the community and learn new skills.”
Among those who attended the event was Owain Williams from Outdoor Partnerships Wales – an organisation which runs walking and mountaineering groups for people over the age of 25 who are long term unemployed. He said: “We start off with introductory walks on the Wales Coastal Path and in the hills and then move onwards and upwards to the mountains of Snowdonia. The aim is to get people more active and access volunteering opportunities. This can really increase their confidence, motivation and wellbeing.”
The event also gave Hergest Unit patients an opportunity to stroke and interact with Shetland Ponies from the Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship (WITH) charity, which helps disadvantaged people improve their health and wellbeing through equine assisted activities.
Ian Crosby from WITH said: “Sometimes people like to stroke the horses, interact with them and feel how calm the horse is. They can pick up on their calmness and that then transfers to them.
“Other times we do more practical activities where people can build obstacle courses and then identify how each obstacle represents a problem that they’ve got in their life.
“They use the horse to overcome those obstacles and through that they come up with a way that they can overcome the obstacles in their lives.”
The event was also attended by James Richards from the National Exercise Referral Scheme in Gwynedd, which is delivered throughout the county’s 12 leisure centres.
He said: “The initial barrier for most people is coming to a leisure centre for the first time. It’s a strange setting and they are meeting somebody they don’t know. Once we’ve broken down that barrier people can relax and enjoy the sessions.
“Those taking part are all in the same situation in that they’ve been referred by a healthcare professional. When you’re exercising with a group of similar people it makes things much easier.”
Future events are now being planned and any community groups or support organisations interested in participating can contact Rhian Hughes at Unllais for further information. Tel: 01745 827903 or e-mail: develnw@unllais.co.uk
