My name is Sally and I have recently joined as a Carer Representative. I want to make sure that carers have a voice in how mental health services are planned in Powys as we can easily be forgotten about. I want to use my experiences to bring about some positive change and make the service better for anyone else who has to care for a loved one with poor mental health.  I am quite new in the role but I am really looking forward to getting involved with the other reps, and hopefully meeting other carers to hear their stories.

Hello my name is Sarah Dale.

I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Anorexia, depression and anxiety which lead to me self-Injuring. As a service user I spent many years trying to gain a diagnosis. Since my diagnosis I have been able to find the most effective treatment and have learnt more about my diagnosis and myself which has led to an increase in my quality of life. I have been a carer for family members with different needs.

As a Powys mental health service user representative I attend various different meetings and boards, at a local and regional level, with the aim to bring a service user and Powys perspective. I bring any current issues or trends and help shape new services or treatment pathways so they are ‘service user ready’.

I became a rep for many reasons. I don't want others to have the experiences I had. I want to help others get their voice heard and make a difference to the local community. And I want to raise awareness of the issues I feel strongly about and the issues that Powys residents experience in accessing help and support for mental health and social issues. I strongly believe we all have the responsibility to do what we can to change and improve the mental health services that we all use.

In my time as a rep I have pushed for more representation from those experiencing mental health and substance misuse issues. Also more ways that the public can feed back issues or compliments they have experienced so reps can better represent the community, from online feedback forms (include link) and our meet the reps days. I have also created and developed service user led self-injury awareness sessions. These were originally developed for our Minor Injury Units and mental health staff. The sessions have also been attended by our voluntary mental organisations and our social services staff and foster carers. Every attendee gets an orange ribbon so look out for it. My self-injury awareness work has led me to be a part of the Mid and West Wales Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Board, a Wales-wide research project. Who knows where next.

As a rep I have gained a greater appreciation for our staff. They are just as frustrated as us with the service at times. I feel as service users and as carers, we need to remind ourselves that staff are people too, and are doing what they can with what resources they have.

Email Sarah at sarah.dale@mhreps.org.uk

Read Sarah's piece on Borderline Personality Disorder, which was written for BPD Awareness Month in May 2021.

Hello my name is John Lilley.

I was diagnosed with bi-polar in 2013 and before that with clinical depression as a result of life changing neurosurgery in 2000. After a three month stay as a patient in Bronllys, and attending Patients’ Council meetings whilst there, I decided that following recovery I would join Powys Patients' Council as a volunteer. I believe this helped in my recovery and boosted my self-esteem and confidence.

After being a volunteer for over 5 years I became a Mental Health Service User Representative in 2021 as I felt my experience as a service user, and as someone with lived experience of mental health issues, could help to give a voice and attempt to improve access and care within the mental health services.

During my time as a rep I have also joined the Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum to represent Powys. This is a national forum that meets regularly and reports to the Welsh Government on issues affecting service users and carers locally. I have also been a member of the Powys Crisis Care forum which oversees the delivery of the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat in Powys. This measures the effectiveness of how Powys deals with people in Mental Health Crisis.

Email John at john.lilley@mhreps.org.uk

My name is Rhydian Parry and I’m service user rep for the partnership board here in Powys. I was diagnosed with bipolar back in 2002 when I was 17 in what was a very serious episode. I have been in hospital due to my condition quite a few times since then and it’s from my experiences in there and in the general ‘system’ that I decided to become a rep. I wanted to try and help change mental health services for the better by bringing my experiences and those of other service users to the table. It’s good to have this opportunity and in the majority I do feel listened to and respected on the board. I think that we are making a difference, although the pace of change can feel a little slow at times.

We have an opportunity for a new carer representative which is here.