#mind-cymru — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

Editor @[email protected] · 2025-12-23 · 07:56 UTC

How to keep your mental health from snowballing this Christmas

Feelings that are small to begin with can easily snowball into something bigger with the many extra pressures and expectations that the festive season can bring.

Mind Cymru is reminding people in Wales that there is support available for anyone who might be struggling with their mental health this Christmas, and that intervention can save lives.

Simon Jones, Associate Director of Policy and Influencing, says:

“Christmas can often feel stressful, whether that’s due to other events happening in our lives, the financial pressures involved or how we navigate our relationships with others. And, while it is a time of year to celebrate, it can also be a time when feelings are heightened.

“Supporting someone with even the smallest of worries can help stop those feelings turning into something that weighs them down. And it can be especially important to remember this at times like Christmas.”

If you are worried about coping with your own emotions or about someone close to you during the festive season, Mind Cymru has some tips to help.

These include:

Looking after yourself

Be patient with yourself, prioritise what you need, and remember Christmas won’t last forever. Set boundaries where you need them and say no to things that aren’t helpful if you can. You don’t have to take on every task or go to every event.

Managing money

Making lists, plans or budgets can make money feel more manageable, as can being open about what you can spend. Reach out for support if you need to – organisations like Citizens Advice can help if you’re struggling with household bills, for example.

Avoiding comparisons

The ‘Christmas’ we see in adverts isn’t real, so be kind to yourself. Remember that what you see online often doesn’t reflect reality and can often make us feel worse about ourselves. Taking breaks from social media can also help.

Planning ahead
Think about what might feel difficult over Christmas and what could help you cope ahead of time. If regular routine is important to you, try and include this in your Christmas plans where possible. If you’re worried about feeling lonely or isolated this Christmas, think of ways to help pass the time in advance if you can.

Talking to others

Tell people you’re spending time with if you are struggling and let them know how they can help you. Remember that you don’t have to justify yourself to others. Online communities like Mind’s Side by Side service can also offer a safe place to connect with others if you need to during the festive period too.

Simon added: “If a person’s emotions do snowball into something bigger, it might not look like a crisis from the outside. It could look like being busy all the time, withdrawing from company, or like someone is simply coping.”

“Mind Cymru is here to remind people across Wales that there are people you can reach out to for support if you are worried this could be happening to you, or someone you know, this Christmas.”

If you are finding Christmas difficult, you can:

Call Mind’s Support Line on 0300 102 1234, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm (closed on 25and 26 December 2024, and 1 January 2025).
Reach out to Mind’s online community Side by Side, available 7 days a week and 24 hours a day at https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/
Call Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone). Their English language line is always open and their Welsh language line opens daily from 7pm to 11pm.
Text SHOUT to 85258, a free 24/7 crisis text service

Wales also has its own network of 15 local Minds providing drop in, befriending and other wellbeing services within communities across Wales. You can find out more on Mind’s website here.

#Christmas #mentalHealth #MindCymru #Samaritans

#christmas #mentalhealth #mindcymru #samaritans

Editor @[email protected] · 2025-10-25 · 10:00 UTC

‘Mental Elf’ 5k fun run brings festive cheer to Aberavon Seafront

Festive fun with a serious purpose

The charity event takes place on Sunday 7 December, inviting people of all ages and abilities to walk, jog or run along the seafront.

Organisers say the Mental Elf run combines Christmas fancy dress with the importance of mental health, encouraging participants to don elf outfits, get active and support local services.

The event is part of a nationwide series of more than 50 Mental Elf runs organised by local Mind charities across England and Wales.

Two runners in elf costumes take on the Aberavon Seafront during last year’s Mental Elf 5k, supported by event volunteers and medics.

‘Exercise is a natural stress‑buster’

Will Price, NPT Mind’s Physical Activity Lead, said:

“Running or walking can help us switch off from everyday pressures, relieve stress and give us time to clear our heads. When you exercise, you release ‘feel good’ hormones which can help reduce negative feelings and improve your mood.”

He added that the festive 5k was “a great opportunity to boost your mental and physical health while also raising vital funds to make sure everyone in Neath Port Talbot with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.”

Participants in elf hats and costumes gather at the starting arch, ready to set off on the Mental Elf 5k along Aberavon Seafront.

Call for sponsors and volunteers

NPT Mind is also appealing for local businesses to sponsor the event and for volunteers to help on the day.

Tickets are available online at npt‑mental‑elf‑2025.raiselysite.com.

#5kRun #Aberavon #AberavonSeafront #Charity #funRun #fundraising #MentalElf #mentalHealth #MindCymru

#5krun #aberavon #aberavonseafront #charity #funrun #fundraising

Editor @[email protected] · 2025-10-17 · 10:41 UTC

One in three GP mental health appointments in Wales ‘failed to meet needs’, Mind Cymru survey finds

Survey reveals gaps in support

The findings, published in Mind’s Big Mental Health Report 2025, show that 36% of respondents in Wales felt their most recent GP mental health appointment failed to provide the help they needed.

While the vast majority (85%) said their GP listened carefully, only half (52%) left their appointment feeling hopeful. A similar proportion (50%) reported being treated unfairly in the past year when seeking help for their mental health.

The survey gathered responses from 1,570 adults in Wales between January and March 2025, as part of a wider UK study involving more than 18,000 people.

‘I was suicidal and waiting made me worse’

One woman from Bridgend, diagnosed with Complex PTSD, described waiting a month for a GP appointment despite being suicidal. She told Mind Cymru the delay pushed her into crisis, leading to repeated visits to A&E.

“I was suicidal and constantly thinking about ending it as I just didn’t think I could carry on living,” she said. “The waiting made me worse. During my last crisis I developed psychosis. I ended up in A&E multiple times and that was not what I needed.”

She said the lack of timely support left her unable to work and in “a really frightening place mentally.”

Call for urgent reform ahead of Senedd elections

Mind Cymru is urging the next Welsh Government to overhaul primary care services and deliver on Wales’ new 10‑year mental health strategy.

The charity wants to see:

Same‑day access to mental health support across Wales
A stronger focus on children and young people’s mental health
Greater collaboration between the NHS and voluntary sector providers to ease pressure on services

Sue O’Leary, Executive Director at Mind Cymru, said:

“People in Wales are waiting too long, or are simply unable in some cases, to access the right kind of mental health support when they need it. This is impacting people’s relationships, their ability to work, their physical health and their overall sense of self‑worth.
“GPs and voluntary sector providers are often doing all they can, but the current healthcare system simply isn’t working for people with mental health needs in Wales today. The next Welsh Government must deliver on plans to create an open access service, prioritising same‑day referrals for people needing mental health support.”

About the report

Mind’s Big Mental Health Report is published annually and brings together data on mental health problems, stigma and discrimination, alongside personal experiences. The 2025 edition highlights rising demand for support, long waiting times, and the urgent need for reform across England and Wales.

The full report is available at mind.org.uk.

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Swansea man speaks out after years of mental health service failings
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#BigMentalHealthReport #GPAppointments #mentalHealth #mentalHealthSupport #MindCymru #NHS #NHSMentalHealth #NHSWales #SeneddElections2026 #Wales