Caniad catch-ups have now started in North Wales, with our last one tomorrow in Colwyn Bay. Please come along to the next ones in your area.
Come along to find out what services are in your area. Staff will be there to help with your time banking and new volunteer opportunities.
We will be switching our Big Chats to monthly Catch-ups. These sessions will take place in the first week of every month and are specifically for those signed up or wanting to sign up to the service and will include:
Feedback on substance misuse and mental health services
Please contact the coordinator in your area for further details:
We look forward to seeing you at the first Welcome Catch-up!
Rowley’s Lane –Groups are face to face and for service users already known to Flintshire SMS only. Groups are usually run on a Monday. We do not take referrals for this group; if you have any queries about this group, please contact zoe.aldcroft@wales.nhs.uk.
Penrhyn House (North Wales Recovery Centre) –Groups run on Thursdays from 10am – 12pm at Penrhyn House. They also run an MOIMR group on Anglesey which runs on Thursdays from 2.00 – 4.00pm. Both groups can be accessed face to face and online. The groups run consecutively, and service users can join at any time during the groups run. Penrhyn House asks that service users contact them direct on 01248 352771 if they want to access groups there. More info on the range of activities available at Penrhyn House can be found here – Our Services – North Wales Recovery Communities (northwalesrc.org).
Conwy SMS –Groups run on Wednesdays at the Dawn Centre from 11.00 – 1.00. Their latest group started on Wednesday 14th February. Groups are face to face and primarily for service users already known to Conwy SMS, but they do accept referrals for people living in Conwy who aren’t known to the SMS service.
Online Group –The latest group started on Thursday 15th February. This group runs every Thursday 2pm – 4.30pm and is accessed online via zoom. It is closed to new referrals but we are holding a wait list for the next group. I don’t have dates for this group as yet.
Attendants must be sober when attending meetings. If they are not yet abstinent from alcohol or illicit substances, then they do need to be highly motivated to do so and be able to attend whilst not being under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances.
If possible, it is a huge help if you can give us clients email addresses as well as telephone numbers on the referral forms. This enables us to make contact and signpost service users to some online resources whilst they wait for new groups to start.
For more information on MOIMR and what the groups entail have a look at our website – Home | Moving On In My Recovery (moving-on.uk)
Please submit your referrals for MOIMR to me – louise.pickering@adferiad.org and please specify which group your client is interested in. If you have any queries, feel free to drop me an email.
If you have any referrals for our CAMFA service which offers one to one counselling support for people with substance/alcohol issues or those who are affected by a loved one’s substance misuse issues, please can they be sent to enquiries@adferiad.org
Mental Health Foundation reports on the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on mental health:
Financial Strain and Mental Health:
The data reveals a significant correlation between personal financial situations and mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and hopelessness. This correlation persists across different socioeconomic groups, indicating that financial strain is a common factor contributing to mental distress among UK adults.
Persistent Mental Distress:
The report highlights a concerning trend of persistent levels of mental distress attributed to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Despite minor fluctuations, the proportions of individuals experiencing anxiety, stress, and hopelessness have remained largely consistent since the previous year, suggesting a sustained impact of financial strain on mental well-being.
Socioeconomic Disparities:
There is a notable disparity in the prevalence of mental health issues related to financial strain between socioeconomic groups. Adults in the lowest socioeconomic groups (DE) are disproportionately affected, reporting higher rates of anxiety, stress, and hopelessness compared to those in the highest socioeconomic groups (AB). This underscores the unequal burden of financial strain on mental health, with vulnerable populations facing greater challenges.
Impact on Daily Life:
The report sheds light on the tangible effects of financial strain on daily life, with a significant proportion of individuals reporting struggles to afford essential living expenses. The inability to afford heating and skipping meals are highlighted as direct consequences of financial strain, emphasizing the material deprivation experienced by many individuals amidst economic challenges.
Policy Recommendations:
Against the backdrop of the Autumn Statement, the Mental Health Foundation advocates for governmental action to address the mental health implications of the cost-of-living crisis. The call for mental health impact assessments for all government policies reflects a proactive approach to consider the psychological ramifications of economic decisions. Additionally, the emphasis on increasing financial support to prevent poverty and combat stigma surrounding financial strain underscores the need for holistic interventions to safeguard mental well-being in times of economic hardship.
Useful websites:
Tackling food poverty in Wales:
Saving money on your water bills:
Making your home warmer and energy efficient:
Mental Health and money advice:
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/wal/
Find a food bank:
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
Advice Cymru:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/our-work/advice-partnerships/advicelink-cymru/
Yesterday, Caniad attended a mental health awareness session organised by North Wales Police. A number of charities, agencies and services attended; Advanced Brighter Futures, Dragon Chat, Papyrus, KIM-Inspire, Samaritans and many others. This was set up to support the local community to share information and raise awareness of mental health.
Here we are with our stall promoting Caniad and sharing information about upcoming Big Chats, Reach and Connect, Lived Experience Project and other supporting projects Caniad links in with through Adferiad.
Thanks for having us!
Caniad are holding a Recovery Fair on Anglesey as an opportunity for residents to get to know which Mental Health and Substance Misuse services are available on the Isle.
The idea for the fair has come from feedback from service users about the lack of awareness around what services are available to them. Even though Anglesey may seem small to others, it is quite spread out, with a lot of service users feeling as if they are too isolated to access help if and when they need it.
We want to take this opportunity to have Substance Misuse and Mental Health services come along and show Anglesey what support you have to offer. Whether you cover all of North Wales or just Anglesey alone, we would greatly appreciate your presence to help connect both service users and carers to the support they need.
The Recovery Fair will be held in the main sports hall at the Llangefni Leisure Centre, from 9am-3pm on the 27th of February 2024.
Tea, coffee and hot/cold food will be available free of charge, but please bring your own tables for your stands.
Free transport can also be arranged from the following pick-up points: Holyhead, Benllech, Amlwch and Menai Bridge. Call to book a seat.
Any questions please email mhairi.allardice@caniad.org.uk or phone our Team Leader John Redican on 0800 0853 382
Today, Crimestoppers launches an All-Wales campaign which aims to spotlight the worrying trend in criminal gangs that are using e-cigarettes and vapes to exploit young people criminally and sexually throughout Wales.
Traditionally, gangs have used cash, trainers and food to groom and entrap young people, but with the NHS reporting a 9% rise in the number of 11–15-year-olds vaping, criminals have evolved their tactics and are now using vapes to target young people.
Our All-Wales campaign runs on social media from 10th January – 31st January 2024.
How you can support us
We’ve developed a suite of social media assets which you can download and share with your network. Click below to download the following:
• 5 English social statics (covering a range of thematic strands)
• 2 Welsh social statics (covering a range of thematic strands)
• 30 second Spotify advert
Alternatively, follow us and share our campaign posts on social media to help us amplify our campaign messaging to new audiences.
Download our social media schedule and assets here
Visit our campaign landing page in English here and Welsh here
