The Merthyr Tydfil Mental Health Partnership Planning Group organised its second Mental Health Information Day on World Mental Health Day Friday 10th October.
The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day was “Making mental health a global priority - scaling up services through citizen advocacy and action”, which aims to promote the needs and rights of residents and help to reduce stigma and discrimination around mental health issues.
Our mental health can vary according to our circumstances and can change across our lifetime, in the same way as our physical health does.
Mental health problems are among the most common of all health conditions, directly affecting about a quarter of the population in any one year. Depression and anxiety are the most widespread conditions.
The event which was held at the Merthyr Labour Club, aimed to raise awareness of mental health issues and offered an opportunity for people to speak with service providers and gather information about all forms of support for maintaining good mental health and it also offered support for carers, friends and family of those experiencing mental ill health.
The Event was supported by MTCBC and was officially opened by His Worship The Mayor, Ieuan Bevan a Hafal Service User and Sian Thomas, Chair of the Mental Health Planning Group.
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His Worship the Mayor and Ieuan Bevan |
His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Clive Jones, commented: “It was a very successful day with over 40 stalls supplying information. It was well supported by the public and there is no doubt the event achieved its purpose of positively raising awareness on mental health issues."
A competition was also held to design the logo for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough for the World Mental Healthy Day. Entrees were of high quality and we would like to thank all those who entered this competition. The winning logo will be used to promote the event across the County Borough.
On why they entered the competition and what the day means to them, the winner of the logo competition, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "This is an important day in many ways. It provides service users with an opportunity to utilise their own skills to bridge the gap between people with perceived mental/emotional issues and society. For a long time it has been an experience for a lot of service users, to feel alienated and generally “not good enough” to make any contribution to life. This forces a lot of people to seek comfort from people who have similar issues.
Thanks to the tireless work of the W.M.H.D. committee, opportunities to hold and raise awareness days are now a regular and most welcome avenue for understanding - and stigma therefore in time a thing of the past.
One undeniable factor is that some time or another everyone has and will experience mental/emotional issues - this may be brief or it may be a matter of long term. Whichever way it happens, I would like to point out that going through my own issues has strengthened my resolve and provided me with greater insight and understanding - and has taught me not to judge by appearance, or face value."
During the week a variety of mental health promotion events took place throughout the Borough. It is estimated over 1000 individuals benefited from the week. The age range who attended events spanned from Age 11 - 65+.
Leaflets:
Mental Health Services in Merthyr Tydfil
Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl ym Merthyr Tudful
Serviços de Saúde Mental em Merthyr Tydfil
Służba Zdrowia Psychicznego w Merthyr Tydfil