Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room 2023 / Gadewch i Ni Siarad am yr Eliffant yn yr Ystafell 2023
Earlier this month, Ysgol Calon Cymru’s Male Mental Health Ambassadors held a very successful free community event called ‘Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room’ at the Stand Hall in Builth Wells. The event was held to help break down the barriers to male mental health, and featured live speakers bringing awareness to what is unfortunately a taboo subject. Below you can see some photos of the event, and reflections from the audience.
Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cynhaliodd Llysgenhadon Iechyd Meddwl Gwrywaidd Ysgol Calon Cymru ddigwyddiad cymunedol am ddim oedd yn llwyddiannus iawn dan yr enw ‘Gadewch i Ni Siarad am yr Eliffant yn yr Ystafell’ yn y Neuadd Strand yn Llanfair ym Muallt. Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad er mwyn helpu i ddymchwel y rhwystrau i iechyd meddwl gwrywaidd, ac ymddangosodd siaradwyr byw i ddod ag ymwybyddiaeth i’r hyn sydd yn anffodus yn bwnc tabŵ. Isod mae rhai lluniau o’r digwyddiad, ac ystyriaethau’r gynulleidfa.
Reflections from the Audience
“On Wednesday 15th of March, I attended Ysgol Calon Cymru's 'Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room' event held at the Strand Hall in Builth. Personally, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Ysgol Calon Cymru and its MMH Ambassadors so much for putting on the event. To say it touched and moved me was an understatement! The moment the first speaker shared his story, I was gone. The stories and information shared were hard-hitting and moving. I was also proud to see the MMH Ambassadors running the sessions with Maria Williams so maturely and it’s a massive credit to them – the work they're doing in the school and in the community is vital to start normalising the stigma surrounding male mental health! It's important to talk!
The event itself gave me a lot of reflection time and a reality check of seeing where my own mental health is at the moment. It has helped me process some thoughts and has really helped me to understand what I need to do myself. On three different occasions during the event, I welled up and had tears running down my face, which just showed the impact of the evening! I also laughed and smiled on many occasions with one of the guest speakers (a GP) normalising the discussion around men checking their testicles and also acne.
From my point of view, the event was a huge success and both Maria Williams and the Male Mental Health Ambassadors should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. A final ‘Diolch’ for indeed addressing the Elephant in the Room! And THANK YOU for making me realise that we are not alone!”
Another reflection of the evening…
“It was very informative and hard hitting on times. It shows what a pink elephant the subject of male mental health is still today. I do suffer from PTSD and have been in some dark places. I did seek help from a doctor, and it did help. No-one should be ashamed to do this, and more people should talk about it.”
And one more...
“I thought the event was inspirational. Men’s mental health is a bit of a taboo subject, so something like this was very much needed in order to get people talking. I certainly hope this enables many doors to be opened and support provided to those who need it.”
— Helen Tuite, Member Pioneer Co-op Builth Wells
Diolch yn Fawr
Our MMH ambassadors would like to thank our sponsors for the event: Hay and Brecon Farmers, Co-op, Jungle Production and the Thomas Pritchard Foundation.
If You Need Help
If anyone feels that they are struggling in any way, please see the organisations below that are able to help.
In School
Contact the wellbeing team: www.ysgolcalon.cymru/request-support
In the Community
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
0800 689 5652
NHS Urgent Support
0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day)
You can also contact NHS Wales 24 hours a day by dialling 111
Mind Crisis Services
Samaritans
Call 116 123 (UK-wide)
Text SHOUT to 85258 (UK-wide)
Call C.A.L.L.
0800 132 737 (Wales only)
Powys Mental Health
Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams
Your GP can also offer you mental health support.
Remember: all of these services are for anyone who's struggling. They won't judge.
Ystyriaethau’r Gynulleidfa
“Ar ddydd Mercher 15fed Mawrth, es i ddigwyddiad Ysgol Calon Cymru ‘Gadewch i ni siarad am yr Eliffant yn yr Ystafell’ a gynhaliwyd yn Neuadd y Strand yn Llanfair ym Muallt. Yn bersonol, o waelod fy nghalon, hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Ysgol Calon Cymru a’i Llysgenhadon IMG am gynnal y digwyddiad hwn. Mae dweud ei fod yn deimladwy ac wedi fy nghyffwrdd yn dweud rhy ychydig! Roeddwn wedi fy ngwefreiddio o’r eiliad cyntaf y rhannodd y siaradwr cyntaf ei stori. Roedd y storïau a gwybodaeth a rannwyd yn ddiarbed ac ysgogol. Roeddwn mor falch gweld y llysgenhadon IMG yn cynal y sesiynau gyda Maria Williams mewn modd mor aeddfed ac mae’n glod enfawr iddynt – mae’r gwaith maent yn ei wneud yn yr ysgol ac yn y gymuned yn hanfodol i ddechrau normaleiddio’r stigma sydd o amgylch iechyd meddwl gwrywaidd! Mae’n bwysig siarad!
Roedd y digwyddiad ei hun wedi rhoi llawer o amser ystyried i fi a gwiriad go iawn i weld ble mae fy iechyd meddwl i ar hyn o bryd. Mae wedi fy helpu i brosesu rhai meddyliau ac mae wedi fy helpu’n fawr i ddeall beth sy’n rhaid i fi ei wneud. Ar dri achlysur gwahanol yn ystod y digwyddiad, roeddwn yn ddagreuol ac roedd y dagrau’n llifo lawr fy wyneb, oedd yn dangos effaith y noson! Roeddwn hefyd wedi chwerthin a gwenu sawl gwaith gydag un o’r siaradwyr gwâdd (meddyg teulu) yn normaleiddio’r drafodaeth ynglŷn â dynion yn archwilio eu ceilliau ac hefyd acne.
O’m safbwynt i, roedd y digwyddiad yn llwyddiant mawr a dylai Maria Williams a’r Llysgenhadon Iechyd Meddwl Gwrywaidd yn hynod falch o’r hyn maent wedi ei gyflawni. ‘Diolch’ olaf am fynd i’r afael â’r Eliffant yn yr Ystafell! A DIOLCH am wneud i fi sylweddoli nad ydym ar ein pennau ein hunain!”
Ystyriaeth arall o’r noson…
“It was very informative and hard hitting on times. It shows what a pink elephant the subject of male mental health is still today. I do suffer from PTSD and have been in some dark places. I did seek help from a doctor, and it did help. No-one should be ashamed to do this, and more people should talk about it.”
And one more...
“Roedd yn addysgiadol ac yn ddiarbed ar adegau. Mae’n dangos bod pwnc iechyd meddwl gwrywaidd yn dal i fod yn gymaint o eliffant pinc hyd heddiw. Rwy’n dioddef o PTSD ac rwyf wedi bod mewn rhai mannau tywyll. Fe wnes ofyn am gymorth meddyg, ac roedd hyn wedi helpu. Ni ddylai neb deimlo cywilydd o wneud hyn, a dylai mwy o bobl siarad am hyn.”
— Helen Tuite, Aelod o Pioneer Co-op Llanfair ym Muallt
Diolch yn Fawr
Hoffai ein Llysgenhadon IMG roi diolch i’n noddwyr am y digwyddiad: Hay and Brecon Farmers, Co-op, Jungle Production a Sefydliad Thomas Pritchard.
Os Oes Angen Help Arnoch
Os yw rhywun yn teimlo eu bod yn cael unrhyw drafferth, gall y sefydliadau isod helpu.
Yn yr Ysgol
Cysylltwch â’r Tîm Llesiant: www.ysgolcalon.cymru/request-support
Yn y Gymuned
Llinell Gymorth y DU i Atal Hunanladdiad Cenedlaethol
0800 689 5652
Cymorth Brys GIG
0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm bob dydd)
Gallwch hefyd gysylltu â GIG Cymru 24 awr y dydd trwy ddeialu 111
Gwasanaethau Argyfwng Mind
Y Samariaid
Ffoniwchl 116 123 (DU gyfan)
Testun at SHOUT i 85258 (DU gyfan)
Ffoniwch C.A.L.L.
0800 132 737 (Cymru’n unig)
Iechyd Meddwl Powys
Timau Triniaeth Cartref Crisis Resolution
Hefyd, gall eich meddyg teulu roi peth cefnogaeth iechyd meddwl.
Cofiwch: Mae’r gwasanaethau hyn ar gyfer pawb sy’n cael trafferth. Fyddan nhw ddim yn barnu.