Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness Week took place between 15th-21st May. The official theme was ‘anxiety’ and, across the week, we will be sharing information on Mental Health services, support and training available. 

If you are struggling with anxiety and mental health related issues, Melo is Gwent’s own Mental Health and Wellbeing Self Help website full of information, resources and tips. Also on the site are details of local and national helplines and sources of support: Helplines and Support | Melo Mental Wellbeing Self-help

While Mental Health organisations and services cannot make the cost-of-living crisis or other pressures go away, they can help people to cope.

If you are struggling, it’s important to:

• Acknowledge your feelings
• Take care of your physical health
• Stay connected
• Practice mindfulness
• Seek help, if needed
• Set realistic goals
• Focus on what you can control

NSPCC Briefing

Details of a new NSPCC briefing: Child mental health: learning from case reviews (May 2023).

Briefing Extract

‘Published case reviews highlight the detrimental impact adverse experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can have on a child’s mental health. They also demonstrate how mental health problems can lead to safeguarding concerns. For example, in some case reviews a child's mental health problems led to self-harm or situations which put themselves or others at risk of harm. This briefing is based on learning from a sample of case reviews involving children with a wide range of different mental health problems’ (NSPCC 2023)

Gwent Partner Services

Along with partners in Gwent we are helping ‘shine a light’ on various services:

• Call 111 and press Option 2 - A new Mental Health service for Gwent offering easier access to urgent mental health and wellbeing advice. The service, introduced in Aneurin Bevan UHB is a new option via the FREE NHS 111 phone line, where callers can press 2 to speak to local mental health advisors. 
• The Silver Line UK is a free confidential helpline for older people – 0800 470 80 90 - The Silver Line Helpline
• CALL 247 is a mental health helpline for Wales operating 24/7 available to all – 0800 132 737 - C.A.L.L. Mental Health Helpline - Community Advice and Listening Line
• Papyrus Hopeline for young people suicide prevention - 0800 068 4141 - Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide
• Re-engage for people 75+ who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship Re-engage: Charity Supporting Older People Through Volunteering

Mental Health Training in Gwent

Melo Cymru has information on FREE Suicide First Aid training covering adults and children and young people across Gwent provided by local trainers. These sessions are available for professionals working across multiple sectors including health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, call centre operators, private, voluntary, and public sector workers and community groups or members. Find out more about the training on the Melo Website.

Melo Cymru also has information on the Gwent Connect 5 training programme which focuses on the mental wellbeing within the workforce. The programme helps employees to gain knowledge and skills to help improve mental wellbeing and have conversations with others about their mental wellbeing. Currently, ABUHB is the only area in Wales delivering Connect 5 training!  

Suicide Bereavement Support Services in Gwent

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board recently updated their Suicide Bereavement Support Services in Gwent. The two local providers of Suicide Bereavement Support Services are:

2wish

2wish, who provide a national service for anyone affected by a sudden death of a child/young person aged 25 and under, they are providing essential advice and support for local families.

Tel: 01443 853 12
Email: info@2wish.org.uk
Website: www.2wish.org.uk

Jacob Abraham Foundation

The Jacob Abraham Foundation will support for anyone affected by a death by suicide of adults aged 26 and over.

Tel: 029 22404736
Mobile: 07501096081
Email: gwentpostventionsupport@jacobsfoundation.org.uk
Website: www.jacobsfoundation.org.uk