Alt.Cardiff Magazine: The Mental Health Issue

alt.cardiff

JANUARY 2024 | ISSUE 1

IF IT’S OFFBEAT AND IN CARDIFF, THEN IT’S IN HERE

`TIS THE SEASON

How the cost-of-living crisis is impacting the population this winter

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NEWS:

Walking groups can combat loneliness From Black to Green Cardiff’s new music venue fund

Cover image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

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INTERVIEW:

Independent music artist Ffion Wren discusses using songwriting as therapy Page 3

Walking groups can combat loneliness

Cardiff’s new music venue fund

Cardiff Council have announced a new fund to support small music venues, making them more financially and environmentally sustainable.

Cardiff council say the main purpose of these venues must be the showcase of cultural performance.

The fund must be used for Written by Ashley Thieme Cardiff ’s economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing. The council Walkers at the say investments will “link to the city’s summit of Pen y Fan, Stronger, Fairer, Greener Recovery Bannau Brycheiniog Strategy and the Cardiff Music For some people, the festive season can induce Strategy”, indicating aid in job creation feelings of loneliness, but walking groups may and safeguarding. be the answer for many this winter Some music representatives worry The lights of Winter Wonderland can counteract loneliness by bringing there are too many hoops for small and Christmas stalls that arrive people facing similar struggles businesses to jump through. Beverly in Cardiff for the festive season together, say mental health experts.

Whitrick, COO of Music Venue Trust, are not for everyone and can The Ramblers, a well-known commented on the proposal stating: be overwhelming. Avoiding the walking organisation has groups “We welcome funding opportunities festivities means the season becomes based in and around Cardiff. Mike that can support grassroots music lonely, say mental health charities.

Kohnstamm of Cardiff Ramblers venues. We look forward to receiving UK-wide research from Mind says: “Non-members are welcome more detailed information about this suggests that at Christmas “one in to try a taster walk and are officially particular fund.” five people feel they have nowhere allowed to try two or three with us While the fund may improve to turn for support”. They found before joining the Ramblers.” accessibility of venues for the public, at although loneliness during the festive Andrew Jones-Angove of the this time the application process does period is typically associated with the Tiger Bay Ramblers, which is geared not seem accessible to small businesses older generation, 18 to 24-year-olds towards a younger generation, with time and staffing pressures. are the most likely to be embarrassed pointed out they see an upturn in by loneliness at Christmas. newcomers after Christmas, working Cardiff Outdoor Group offers off the festive season, “but all are an alternative. It is made up of keen welcome anytime”. walkers who take on seven to 11-mile hikes on a regular basis. Sian Davies From Black to Green has been part of the group for over Cardiff is busy with bargain 20 years and finds the group is an hunters on Black Friday but “informal help system” for members. environmental impacts of Black Friday She said: “We are aware people are concerning. “Up to 80% of goods into something good, transforming turn up alone and we make people would go to landfill” claims Green it into ‘Green’ Friday, placing the feel welcome and part of the group.” Alliance, an environmental charity. spotlight on the amazing range of Davies said the group host getaways SustFashWales, run by Helen sustainable independent fashion and many members use this to leave O’Sullivan, raises awareness for brands and creatives here in Wales.” busy city life behind and unwind. sustainable fashion. SustFashWales Green Friday also encourages She describes them as “a walking helped to create Gwener Gwyrdd activities other than shopping, group that does a lot of socialising”. (Green Friday) to address Black including upcycling and getting out Davies added: “Group members Friday’s overconsumption. O’Sullivan into nature. sit and play board games together,” says: “We came together to encourage Think: and she feels the group offers a great people to think before they shop.

Do I need it? sense of community. Joining groups “We aimed to turn ‘Black’ Friday Or do I just want it?

Hiking can bring people together Image created using generative AI

Image by Ashley Thieme

alt.cardiff | News

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Singer-songwriter Ffion Wren’s use of taboo topics in her lyrics sets her apart from other up-and-coming artists

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Image created using generative AI

How songwriting heals trauma

alt.cardiff | Interview

o one prepared me for life them and their life stories. Losing won. This experience helped Wren to in my 20s, are the openeing one grandparent very suddenly and realise how accessible the industry is. lyrics sung by acoustic pop the other to dementia, she said: “I singer-songwriter Ffion wrote a song about the experience of BEING INDEPENDENT Wren in her debut single. The 22-year- him being physically there, but not Wren’s first single, Life In My 20s, old artist from Caerphilly writes mentally knowing who I am.” She came out on 27 October 2023. It is about topics people typically don’t bares some of the most personal details the perfect example of how she uses like talking about, setting her apart of her life with listeners. first-hand experiences to connect with from other up-and-coming artists. She Grieving relationships also listeners. She takes inspiration from independently released her first single, manifests in her lyrics. “My parents her parents ageing and trying to figure Life In My 20s, in October which went through a divorce and from that, her way through the world. She said: draws on hardships she has faced such I started writing songs about it and “It’s not just me going through this, but as loss and failure. that really helped me cope with what hundreds of thousands of people doing With her guitar case firmly by her was happening when I was younger,” exactly the same thing.” side, Wren is aware that her approach she said. Wren has been writing songs The reception to her first release to songwriting is far from mainstream. since the age of 12, revealing: “Some of has been “incredible”, she says. So how “In the charts it’s kind of just writing them aren’t half-bad either, so maybe I does she celebrate? “By moving to about sex and breakups”, she says. Her will release them.”

Latvia for three months,” she laughs, first single discusses struggling to stay where she will work with another on your feet, feeling left behind, and singer-songwriter and experiment with MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS your parents growing old before your “For me, music has always been genres and styles of writing. So look eyes. “I wanted to write about stuff that like a form of release”, says the singer- out for more new releases in 2024. people actually cared about because songwriter. Taking inspiration from Introducing: there’s things that everyone goes the likes of Birdie and Adele, for Wren, through at some point,” she says.

“It’s always been my kind of therapy, if Life in My 20s something’s happened at home, I write It is hard to believe this is the first “Music for me about it.” Her focus is to connect with track from Ffion Wren. The selfher audience. She added, “Everyone produced, folk style track is perfect for has always has their traumas and things they fans of the stylings of Birdie. been a release” have to go over, but no one talks about The three-minute track is perfectly it through the form of music, or not GRIEVING RELATIONSHIPS formed using a catchy drum beat and mainstream music anyway.”

Grief is a theme that plays a soothing acoustic guitar tones. The Music has been a lifelong big role in her songwriting complimentary backing vocals also passion for her, but the ability to bolden the thought-provoking lyrics. inspiration. Discussing the pursue it was more of a recent song books she has filled The whimsical sounds and lyrics epiphany. Playing instruments take you on a journey, following her that have become part of her from the violin to drums own form of therapy, she through the struggle of finding her place since primary school, she said: “I guess losing people in the world. entered a singer-songwriter is inevitable.” She lost both It is a relatable song that invites you competition in 2022 of her grandfathers, into her personal life, while staying upat the University of and has channeled beat and fun.

West England, where this grief into she studied business art, writing

entrepreneurship, and songs about

Pictured: Ffion Wren, 22 Image by Ashley Thieme

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alt.cardiff | Feature

The gift of giving There was an increased demand for charitable aid at Christmas with the number of families seeking toy donations rising during the cost-of-living crisis Words by Ashley Thieme Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

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ental health can become (ONS) researched winter pressures last a struggle in the winter year where 220 respondents in Wales and pressures of the cost- were asked how the impacts negatively of-living crisis following affected their health or wellbeing. the pandemic have impacted the population. So how can charitable aid COST OF LIVING IMPACTS make a positive difference?

In Wales, 44% of people said their Many people rely on food mental health was negatively affected donation centres and toy appeals, but by cutting back on energy usage. The this winter, more people than ever seek inability to heat meals because of gas charitable aid as they find themselves or electricity costs also negatively in uncomfortable positions at a impacted mental health, said 18% financially demanding time. The crisis of respondents. ONS research from has massively impacted quality of life February of this year found that adults for Wales’s residents. A recent report who experience moderate-to-severe

by Public Health Wales reveals rising depressive symptoms were more likely costs of living have negative impacts food-insecure. on the population’s mental health.

Simon Jones, head of policy and The Office for National Statistics campaigns at Mind Cymru, said the

alt.cardiff | Feature crisis is having an “extremely negative impact”. Mind found three in every 50 people in England and Wales considered ending their lives due to the cost of living.

“The current economic climate is a huge worry for people, and those on the lowest incomes are bearing the brunt of it. Yet despite the clear need never have mental health services been more overstretched,” he says.

Mind Cymru calls for prioritisation of mental health services ahead of the 2024 Mental Health Strategy for Wales from the Welsh Government. The strategy guides work the government does to improve mental health and wellbeing in Wales. Jones says: “It is vital that the financially vulnerable are able to access effective and, most importantly, timely financial and emotional support at their point of need.”

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HOW DEMAND IS RISING For far more people this year though, cutting back on heating and food costs are just some of the impacts.

Every year families access food banks and charities, but the number seeking aid this year has increased.

The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Present Appeal distributed more than 76,000 gifts last year. They expect the number of families looking for support this year to rise as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

Key findings in a report by Citizens Advice South-East Wales (CASEW) showed they are receiving thousands “Those on the lowest more advice issues than two years ago incomes are bearing the in relation to charitable support and food banks, demonstrating households brunt of it” Simon Jones, head of policy and cannot afford “basic essentials”. campaigns at Mind Cymru “The findings are stark. We have seen a 1500% increase in crisis support LOCAL CITIZENS TO THE RESCUE since December 2020 with demand Canolfan Pentre, a community for fuel vouchers and emergency food centre in the Rhondda, has seen an parcels skyrocketing,” said Ness Young, increase in the number of people chair of CASEW needing their services this year as CASEW said: “We have seen an spending budgets for Christmas increase in the amount of clients who presents become tighter. Canolfan are suffering from poor mental health Pentre offers community support, with as a result of the cost-of-living crisis the objective of combating isolation and an inability to access mental health and loneliness. services because of demand.”

WalesOnline heard of the centre’s An anonymous female included Christmas appeal and encouraged in ONS research said: “My general their readers to donate gifts if they anxiety has got worse, possibly because are able to. They created an Amazon I’ve been skipping meals. I feel trapped Wishlist for readers to donate items in poverty despite working long hours. and have been overwhelmed with positive response.

As a single person supporting my ill Ruth Mosalski, political editor daughter, the emotional and financial of WalesOnline, is at the forefront of strain is immense.” the partnership between WalesOnline and Canolfan Pentre. After hearing of the fundraising, and mental health support they do all year, the Christmas appeal stuck in her head. WalesOnline publicised the appeal and shared stories of people seeking aid, resulting in 800 gifts being received from the wishlist, says Mosalski.

Reflecting on increased demand for support Mosalski says: “It is a twopronged thing. More people need help this year because of the cost-of-living

Canolfan Pentre overwhelmed by the positive response to their Christmas toy appeal

Image courtesy of Ruth Mosalski, WalesOnline

alt.cardiff | Feature

crisis. But businesses and people that have previously helped them haven’t got as much money to give them.”

The demographic in need is changing she said. More people need help – the “squeezed middle”.

CASEW found 45% of people in Wales will be “fuel poor” following energy price increases. This comes with stark findings that single-income households earning the national living wage will spend up to 44% of monthly earnings on rent, compared to 23% in 2021 as reported by ONS. The response to the appeal sends a positive message at a difficult time.

The Public Health Wales report found 22% of people said the crisis made a positive impact on support within the community. Work from community groups and charities means people with mental health struggles can be supported at this busy time.

Many services are overstretched and need community support. So, if you can, add a few extra tins of canned food or pick up a toy to donate next time you go shopping.

USEFUL DONATIONS AT WINTER: Pre-loved, warm items such as jumpers, scarves and hats.

Buy extra tinned food with your weekly shop to donate.

Childrens toys - donations centres will usually specify age ranges.