The ‘Movin’ On Up’ campaign peaked in spectacular style today when 100 mental health service users, carers and professionals from Bipolar UK, Hafal and the Mental Health Foundation – along with intrepid members of statutory agencies from across Wales – climbed Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales.
Today’s climb was symbolic: it reflected how service users want to achieve new heights in their empowerment by maximising the opportunities for recovery from serious mental illness provided by the Welsh Government’s Mental Health Strategy, “Together for Mental Health” and the historic Mental Health (Wales) Measure. The climb was also attended by staff from the Irish mental health charity, Mindwise, and the English mental health charity, Rethink.
Mental Health Foundation service user Terry Davies said: “Twenty years ago the idea that an event like this, which is being led by the people who are most important in the process, would have taken place would not have been believed. People with serious mental illness have many mountains to climb in their journey towards recovery, but when we work together – as we have during the campaign – we can move mountains. We are all capable of achieving great things as we have today. It’s only right that we shout about our achievements from the heights – and there aren’t many places higher than Snowdon.”
Sue Wigmore, Manager of Wales Bipolar UK, said: “The Movin’ On Up campaign has achieved a lot this summer. It’s brought service users, carers and mental health professionals together to consider the excellent legislation we have in Wales and the best way to take it forward. I’ve attended some of the events which have taken place across the country and I’ve been delighted by the lively debates that have taken place. Friday’s climb will cap the campaign in style. I took part in the Pen y Fan climb in May; it wasn’t easy. Today’s climb was an even tougher challenge, but one that service users rose to. The campaign has provided a great springboard for campaigning in future years and how to tackle the next big challenge: how to bridge the implementation gap we have in Wales – the gap between the fine legislation we have and the patchy service delivery that exists.”
The “Movin’ On Up” campaign is run by service users and carers and supported by mental health charities Hafal, Bipolar UK and the Mental Health Foundation. Today marks the 22nd weekly county event to have taken place across the country. The campaign will feature an interactive stand at the National Assembly on World Mental Health Day.
For more pictures from the event please go to Hafal’s Facebook page.
For more information on the campaign please visit http://www.hafal.org/.
To download a copy of the Care and Treatment Planning Guide, which contains a section on personal care and physical wellbeing, please click here.