Nurse Becky backing mental health drive
people across North Wales to embrace the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Research shows that focusing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, which encourage people to connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give, can boost personal wellbeing. The campaign is being launched to coincide with the NHS’ national Self Care Week,Week, whichwhich runruns from November 13-19. RebeccaRebecca said: “When Irfon was diagnosdiagnosed with cancer it becambecame more important than everever for us to practice what wewe preach, and we focused vevery heavily on the small evevery day actions we cocould take to look after oour mental health, to see usus through what was a vevery difficult time. ““Focusing on the 5 Ways toto WWellbeing was especially usefuluusefu for Irfon at the time, andand it’sit’s helping me now as I go throughthrough ththe process of grieving. ““SimpleSimple thingsthings like getting some gentle exercise, spending time with people whose company you enjoy, learning new skills and taking notice of the positive things in life can really help you to feel better, even when life gets especially tough. THE widow of cancer campaigner Irfon Williams is backing a new drive to improve the mental wellbeing of people in North Wales.
Irfon, a former UK Nurse of the Year, was a passionate advocate of the need for children and young people le to talk about mental health issues during ng his 25 year career as a mental health nurse and manager.
After being diagnosed ed with advanced bowel canncer in January 2014, the e father-of-five inspired people across North Wales and further afield with his positivity and ● Irfon, Becky’s late determination to help p husband, was himself others. a mental health
Following his death in worker May aged just 46, his wife e Rebecca, herself a Registered stered Psychiatric Nurse, says focusing on small everyday actions ns to look after her mental wellbeing is helping her and her young children Sîon and Ianto through the grieving process.
She’s lent her support to a new campaign led by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s Public Health Team to encourage
“Giving back to the local community through the #TeamIrfon fundraising campaign also helped to give our wellbeing a boost, and I’m really proud that the campaign is still helping others.
“I’ve found that focusing on these small actions everyday can really help to improve your mental health.”
BCUHB’s campaign will also encourage employers to create supportive environments for employees to participate in five ways activities, while community groups can play a role by developing community activities which promote wellbeing.
Teresa Owen, Executive Director of Public Health at BCUHB, said: “The 5 ways to wellbeing are simple things to build into our lives every day to give our wellbeing a boost. Research shows that small improvements in wellbeing can help to decrease some mental health problems and help us to flourish.
“Connecting with people, going for a short walk, noticing the environment we live in, doing something nice for a friend and trying something new all have a positive impact.
“Good mental wellbeing doesn’t mean that we never experience feelings or situations that we find difficult, but it means we feel we have the resilience to cope when things get tough.”