Well-known faces lend support to Mind Cymru’s Welsh language mental health campaign

Celebrities and politicians are backing a Mind Cymru campaign to promote Welsh language mental health support in Wales, after research found Welsh speakers are not easily able to converse in their language of choice when seeking help.

Pobl y Cwm actor Rhys ap William, MS for South Wales West Sioned Williams, and Llyr Gruffydd, MS for North Wales, are among the familiar faces to have shown their support on social media for the charity’s latest campaign, which comes after a report found there was an ‘overall lack of’ Welsh language mental health services available in Wales.

The joint review from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Estyn also said this was especially true for children and young people.

However, Mind Cymru offers a wide range of Welsh mental health information on its website for both adults and children. The charity is asking members of the public to help raise awareness of the support it provides, in light of the experiences of young people like Elen Jones.

Elen is a first language Welsh speaker and developed symptoms of depression and anxiety at the age of 16, and is sharing her story as part of Mind Cymru’s campaign, to help others find support.

At the time, Elen was able to access Welsh language therapy services with support from her Head of Sixth Form at school in Anglesey. But when she tried to access similar counselling services to help with her move away to university in Swansea, Elen describes the lack of support available to her then as ‘shocking’.

Elen, now 24, says: “In the end I did manage to get some support, but it was with an English medium counsellor, as they were the only one available, but I didn’t really benefit from it.

“I barely spoke English until I went to high school so I’m so much more confident speaking in Welsh, and when you’re speaking in your own language you just feel more of a connection and able to express yourself better.

“I think it’s really important that people are supported in Welsh if that’s what they need.”

The HIW, CIW and Estyn report says personal language choice is important for children and young people as it helps them to build a more trusting relationship with care providers and makes it easier for them to express their thoughts and feelings.

Rhys ap William is an actor who appears on Welsh language TV channel S4C and believes it’s not only children and young people who are missing out on receiving mental health services in the Welsh language, either.

Rhys, who plays Cai Rossiter in the soap, Pobol Y Cwm, says the feedback he received after his character was involved in a storyline around long running mental health struggles and suicidal ideation, was overwhelmingly supportive.

Rhys, who has also been open about his own experiences with mental health in the past, said: “The response to our storyline was overwhelming, and made me realise the reach we have into all parts of Wales, especially rural Wales, where the Welsh language is the mother tongue of many. It is vital that people can make that crucial first step for help in Welsh and it is great that Mind Cymru can offer this.”

Mind Cymru provides a range of information and support in the Welsh language as part of its ‘Cynnig Cymraeg’ offer, launched in partnership with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office.

This includes mental health information in Welsh, including support for children and young people, running its campaigns bilingually, and promoting services in both English and Welsh.

Julian John, Associate Director of Mind Cymru Operations, said: “We know how difficult taking that first step towards better mental health can be, and how hard it can be to make sense of your feelings.

“We also believe that nobody should have to face a mental health problem alone, but this continues to be a very real possibility for Welsh speakers who may be struggling to access support through their chosen language and end up feeling more isolated than they should as a result.

“The provision of information, advice and services through the medium of Welsh, is inconsistent across Wales. This is why we are reminding people there is access to Welsh language mental health services – to make sure as many people as possible in Wales are able to get the support they need, in the language they speak.

“I would also encourage people to reach out to the Local Mind in their area for support and advice too.”

Information for adults and young people on bereavement, dealing with suicidal feelings in yourself or in others, eating problems, self-esteem, post-natal depression and a range of other mental health topics is available in Welsh at www.mind.org.uk/cy/gwybodaeth-a-chefnogaeth/