A Reminder That Help and Hope is All Around Us

By Michael James

I am sure that, just like me, my fellow, regular monthly contributors to this fine magazine often sit in front of their computers asking themselves, “What can I write about this month that might be of interest to our readers?”. Or, perhaps it’s only me? The other writers may be full of ideas for articles and may even struggle to decide which to write first. I am more of the school of, ‘leave it to the last minute’ school of thought or, to put it in another way, an ‘inspiration out of desperation’, kind of guy!’. That’s the situation that faced me earlier today, with the deadline of editor in the back of my mind and with nothing in my mind to fill the blank page before me.

Then, my telephone rings. It’s a friend ringing to enquire how my Wife and I are doing. “Are you both OK? Are you both well? Have you had your jabs? Is there anything I can do for you?”. Delighted to receive the call, I assured her that we are OK, had our jabs, are both very well and there is nothing that we need, thank you! However, what I did say was how much her ringing meant to us and how it really made our day. Just a little thing I know and perhaps something that you might consider not worth mentioning. If you do think that, then think again because a simple telephone call, an e-mail, text message, letter or post card (if you are as old as I am), can often make the world of difference to the person you are contacting, especially during these long days of lockdown. Thankfully we seem to be coming out of that difficult period, but for many in our community they have been enduring their own form of lockdown even before Covid-19 became an issue and sadly, it may be with them for some time to come, long after this present Coronavirus has gone away. I refer of course to those among us who regularly suffer from worries, anxiety, loneliness, depression, and every other form of mental disability you can think of disabilities that are not obviously visible.

The friend who rang us suffers with a number of these disabilities and therefore knows just how much someone asking how you are can mean and I know just how much that phone call meant to her and to us. A great deal!! We have family and friends who suffer, or who have suffered to a greater or lesser extent with this and who face their personal, ‘mountains of fear’ in their lives and that phone call struck a chord with me. It is even more significant because, as I write, we are in the middle of what has been nationally declared, ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’. A time that asks us to recognise and acknowledge those in our community and in our family and friends who may be in need of help, even the help that making contact means if only by a simple smile or a cheery “hello”.

To coincide and help with ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’, the media has been full of many of our sport stars, and showbiz celebrities coming out to speak about how they too have suffered with their own problems with statements like, “I had no idea what mental health problems meant!”, or “If only I could have known others felt the same way as I did”. Many of them have said that they now know better and have benefited from having received counselling and are now able to talk about it. Yes, talking about it does help but not only with the professionals. That may be the only way that some of us can get the help we need but sometimes it can simply be by speaking to someone who is prepared to listen, to enable us to ‘get it off our chests’. Talking, we are told, is often the first step in receiving the help we need. It’s never an easy step and is often more difficult to open up to a family member but, as it says in the headline of this piece, ‘Remember that help and hope is all around us’.

‘It’s good to talk’, so the old saying goes and if not to family or friends, then to an organisation like the local branch of the ‘Samaritans’. They are often the first port of call for help,

if needed. Others have benefited from sharing their problem with their Church Pastor or Vicar, Imam or Rabbi but all of these, whilst willing to listen to you, are certain to advise you to speak with your local GP. I am not trying to advise anyone what they should do. As I said earlier, much of this is already out there in the media. It’s just that I know from those who have benefited, from talking to someone just what a tonic it is when someone cares enough to pick up the phone to find out how you are.

This time last year I wrote a similar article and told you about how the work that the churches and chapels carry out in our local community is immense and often goes unseen. The same can, of course, also be said about the other faiths in the area as well as those individuals and groups with no faith. I could go on and on about the way our Church and many others and those of different faiths is (are) helping all those in need in our community but the main reason for this article is to highlight the one disability that is often unseen and goes unrecognised, that of those people with mental health issues. Thankfully this is getting more publicity at the moment with both Central and Local Government at last listening to campaigning groups at the sharp end of the problem. One such group is, ‘Hope in Mental Health’, which is something that ARBC is doing to help.

The idea came about from one of our Fellowship (in fact, the person who rang me to see if I was alright), who has personal experience of the mental health system and was aware of the struggles that some face, knowing that some are admitted to the Mental Health Crisis Unit at Llandough Hospital, with nothing else other than the clothes they stand up in and with no toiletries to maintain their personal dignity while they are there. Upon hearing this story, a small group of women from our church decided to try to help and they responded by starting the project now known as, ‘Hope in Mental Health’, which provides bags of toiletries which are then delivered to the Crisis Unit for distribution to the patients. These toiletry bags are hand made by the ladies in the group from donated materials and each bag contains, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, a comb, and deodorant. These items are welcomed by the patients and also by the NHS staff who can see what a difference it makes and were overwhelmed by what they see as the generosity of the church. Approximately 30 bags have been delivered every month, since May 2019, and a special delivery (complete with a small present for each patient) was delivered at Christmas.

The demand is growing, and this small group of ladies realise that they cannot continue alone and is asking for help from anyone concerned about the situation, and who would be willing to make financial contributions which go to buy the toiletries to fill the bags. Each bag only costs £3 to produce and any donation would be greatly appreciated, as would help to sew the bags. Perhaps your own Church might consider helping and perhaps adopt a ward to supply these special bags of toiletries which can mean so much to those in need and not only for the Adult Mental Health Crisis Unit but also the other wards in the hospital. Further details and how you can help support, ‘Hope in Mental Health’, can be obtained from the Church Office on 029 2049 9430, or e-mail: admin@albanyroadbaptist. Or perhaps visit our new Facebook page, ‘Hope in Mental Health’ which is something that we are very excited about and gives details of various events such as an opportunity to sponsor two of the ladies who are undertaking a walk from Heath Hospital to Llandough Hospital to raise funds for materials and items to make and fill the toilet bags.

The ‘Hope in Mental Health’ project is supported by Cardiff and Vale Health Charity and Albany Road Baptist Church, Cardiff. Yes, help and hope is all around us, so let us give thanks for all the work in the community carried out by ARBC and all the other churches and voluntary organisations in the area, they are always willing to help you in any way they can. May God bless you and all those you love at this difficult time and let us look forward with hope for the future.

PS. ‘Breaking News’. With the help of The Mosawi Foundation and Welsh Hearts, we have recently fitted a heart defibrillator outside the front doors of ARBC. We can now offer anyone in the community a real chance of life in an emergency. It’s all registered with the Welsh Ambulance Service, so they have an access code which makes it available 24/7.