Coming together to end

Swansea, Bridgend, and Neath Port Talbot Councils join forces with the ABMU Health Board in a joint pledge to tackle discrimination around mental health.
With one in four people experiencing a mental health issue at some point in their lives, the need to raise awareness and encourage supportive and understanding attitudes to mental health is a key priority for health and social care service providers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councils in Swansea, Bridgend, and Neath Port Talbot along with the ABMU Health Board are working together to show their commitment to the cause by signing the Time to Change Wales pledge. The pledge is a public declaration made by organisations who want to step up to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Signing the pledge means each of the organisations recognises the importance of supporting both employees and members of the community who are struggling with mental health issues. The pledge itself is accompanied by a detailed action plan which outlines the practical steps each organisation is taking to promote mental health and well-being. Actions within the plan include the provision of counselling services for staff, as well as courses and events designed to reduce stress and enhance personal well-being. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The formal signing of the pledge will take place on Thursday , February 11, at the Western Bay Health and Social Care Programme’s Partnership Forum meeting. The Forum’s membership includes the Chief Executives and Leaders of Swansea, Bridgend, and Neath Port Talbot Councils, and the Chairman of the ABMU Health Board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader and Chair of February’s Partnership Forum meeting, said: “We’re very pleased to join the campaign which sends a clear message of support to those suffering with mental health problems of all types. This is something that touches the lives of thousands across the region and it’s important to get people talking and to challenge prejudice and discrimination.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For more information on Time to Change Wales, please visit www.timetochangewales.org.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A series of self-help guides on emotional health and well-being are available at www.selfhelpguides.ntw.nhs.uk/abmu and were produced in 2015 as part of the Western Bay Programme’s Prevention and Well-being project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​