Film Created by University Students Showcases Mental Health Support Services in North Wales

Daytime TV in a waiting room at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital is being replaced by a new film highlighting the range of support available for mental health patients in North Wales.

Eight organisations are featured in a DVD produced by Wrexham Glyndwr University students which will be shown at Ty Derbyn, a community mental health outpatient unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The film, which includes interviews and contact details from the organisations, was produced after a need was identified by the centre for material which signposted patients to mental health services in the region.

It was created by TV production and film and photography students from the University through the lottery-funded A Degree of Responsibility (ADOR) initiative in conjunction with independent filmmaker Joey Edwards.

The ADOR project aims to support students into employment by giving them opportunities to work on live projects.

Hannah Luhde-Thompson, improvement and partnership officer at UNLLAIS, helped to kickstart the project in coordination with Wrexham Glyndwr University Careers Centre.

She said: “People who come to Ty Derbyn are often still very poorly and having daytime TV shows playing while they’re waiting for an appointment often does no help.

“There are lots of amazing organisations in the Wrexham area and this DVD brings all of them together and signposts patients to the services which they offer.”

The film has been welcomed by health professionals, with Debby Land, BCUHB’s County Manager for Wrexham Mental Health Services, stating: “The students have done a great job of putting together the DVD, which will provide our service users and their families with important information about support services across Wrexham.

“We want people visiting Ty Derbyn and waiting in the waiting room to feel persuaded to access these organisations and know that there are events, activities and services available in the area that will improve their wellbeing.”

Margaret Hanson, Vice-Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), said: “The DVD is a fantastic resource to have in Ty Derbyn and shows how we are doing our work at Betsi in partnership with organisations across North Wales.

“Wrexham Glyndwr University has a special place in the community and I’m delighted that their students have been integral to producing the film.”

Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Wrexham County Borough Council, added: “I’m very pleased to see that the important work of mental health organisations in the Wrexham area has been highlighted by the DVD put together by students at Glyndwr University.

“Mental health care is an incredibly important area which relies on the support of voluntary organisations and services, and it’s good to see them being given their due recognition for all the work they undertake to ensure those dealing with mental health issues do not go unsupported.

“I also congratulate the students at Glyndwr for the professionalism of their work, which really captured the essence of the work undertaken by a variety of organisations in the Wrexham area.”