Pembrokeshire County Council has pledged its support to help remove the stigma around mental health.

The authority’s chief executive Ian Westley, signed the Time to Change Wales pledge on the 25th anniversary of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, October 10.

He promised the authority will do ‘all we can to help and support individuals and work as a partnership with other agencies.’

The authority has created an action plan of activities to promote mental health awareness and remove the stigma around mental health illness. Twenty-five members of staff have volunteered to act as Time to Change champions within the authority to lend an ear for colleagues who may be feeling unwell.

The aim of the champions is to encourage colleagues to talk. They will receive training on their role from Time to Change trainers.

It’s believed one in four people suffers with mental health issues

“I’m delighted to sign the pledge as a recognition that we need to do more,” said Mr. Westley.

“It’s human nature to go to the doctors when we feel unwell physically but quite the opposite when we suffer mentally.

“We tend to bottle up our feeling and say ‘I’ll get over it’ but we need to get rid of that stigma.

“We’ve all got a role to play to support people with mental health issues and we will treat mental illness in the same way we do with other illnesses.”

Speaking at an internal event at County Hall, Mr. Westley was joined by Gemma Humphreys, a representative from Time to Change Wales, and Paul Allchurch, who has been a Time to Change Champion at Carmarthenshire for two years after suffering himself in the past and Mrs. Emma Picton-Jones, of the DPJ Foundation which offers support and advice to people with mental health problems.

Emma, who works as a teacher at Prendergast school started the DPJ foundation after her husband Daniel took his own life in 2016. She wants to support people in rural communities who deal with isolation, anxiety, and working pressures every day.

“Daniel felt that there was no support available for him and was unable to talk about his personal struggles,” said the 29-year-old mother of two.

“Don’t be afraid to talk.”

If you need urgent help, or you’re worried about someone you know, help is available.

Talk to your GP.

The Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day - call 116123 for free or email [email protected]

Tell someone you trust.

For useful resources on mental health and supporting those with mental health illness, visit www.timetochangewales.org.uk or www.mind.org.uk

Remember, you can be extraordinary just by being a friend - small things can make a massive difference to someone experiencing mental illness. Look after yourself and the people around you.