Community, Connection & Care in Pembrokeshire
Why this matters right now
From 1st – 31st of May 2025, the UK marks Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Community.” The Mental Health Foundation chose it because feeling rooted in a caring network is one of the strongest protectors we have against anxiety, depression and the creeping loneliness that so many older adults, family carers and front‑line support workers face every day. Mental Health Foundation
Yet in the homes we visit across Pembrokeshire we still hear the quiet worries:
-
Older people saying, “I don’t want to be a burden.”
-
Families asking, “Am I doing enough? I feel guilty when I leave Mum on her own.”
-
Care staff whispering, “Who looks after us when every shift is an emergency?”
This blog is for all three groups. Think of it as a hand on your shoulder and a sign‑posting map rolled into one.
The hidden weight of loneliness — and why “community” is the antidote
-
Older adults in home or supported‑living settings often lose informal social circles when driving stops or friends pass away. Even a loving care rota can feel empty between visits.
-
Families may live hours away, juggling work and children; the resulting guilt feeds worry and insomnia.
-
Care staff absorb everyone else’s distress; without outlets, professional compassion can slide into burnout.
Loneliness isn’t “just sad”; it’s linked to higher blood pressure, cognitive decline and a 26 % rise in premature mortality. But micro‑connections—a cuppa with a neighbour, a weekly walking group, a safe helpline at 2 a.m.—reverse that curve.
Practical ways to weave stronger community threads
For Older Adults
| Micro‑action | Why it helps | How to start today |
|---|---|---|
| Five‑minute phone ritual | Consistent voice contact offsets long gaps between visits. | Pop the handset next to the kettle; ring a grandchild while the tea brews. |
| Move with purpose | Gentle movement lowers cortisol and lifts mood. | Chair‑based Pilates videos on YouTube; five garden pots to water daily. |
| Join a local “Men’s Shed” or craft circle | Shared activity beats small‑talk awkwardness. | Pembroke Dock Men’s Shed – call 07968 713 749. Log in or sign up to view |
For Families
-
Set a recurring 15‑minute “video porch visit.” A scheduled FaceTime after school lets grand‑kids show homework; consistency > length.
-
Use supported‑living tech portals (e.g., eMAR family view) to track daily notes instead of late‑night worrying.
-
Plan respite honestly. Even a single night off every six weeks protects mental stamina.
For Care Staff
-
Micro‑debriefs. Two‑minute peer check‑ins at shift‑change reduce vicarious trauma.
-
Digital “gratitude jar.” Drop positive client comments in a Teams channel; read on tough days.
-
Protect the basics: hydration, movement, sunlight before midday—every clinical guideline for mood applies to professionals too.
Support close to home: Pembrokeshire & national helplines
| Service | Who it’s for | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrokeshire & Carmarthen Mind | Any age, anxiety, depression, courses & peer groups | 01437 769 982 • pcmind.org.uk Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind |
| Hywel Dda 24‑hr Mental Health Line (NHS 111 → press 2) | Urgent advice from mental‑health practitioners | Dial 111, select option 2 (free) 111.wales.nhs.uk |
| Adferiad (Community Housing/MH Support) | Serious mental illness & housing issues | adferiad.org.uk • Outreach across county Adferiad |
| PAVS Community Connectors | Linking people to clubs, transport, befriending | 01437 723 660 • pembrokeshire.gov.uk/community-connectors Pembrokeshire County Council |
| Age Cymru Dyfed | Over‑50s advice, befriending, digital help | 03333 447 874 • agecymru.wales/dyfed Age UK |
| Men’s Sheds Cymru finder | Social spaces for men | mensshedscymru.co.uk/find-a-shed Mens Sheds Cymru |
UK‑wide crisis / listening lines
-
Samaritans – 116 123 (24/7, free) Samaritans
-
Mind Infoline – 0300 123 3393 (Mon–Fri 9‑6) Bucks Mind
-
Age UK Advice Line – 0800 678 1602 (8am‑7pm, 365 days) Age UK
-
The Silver Line – 0800 4 70 80 90 (55+, night‑time friendship) thesilverline.org.uk
Save these in your phone before you need them.
4. Tiny habits that lift mood & connection
-
One outdoor minute per hour.
-
“Name‑it” journaling. Write one feeling word; science shows it dampens the amygdala.
-
Swap “How are you?” for “What’s been the best part of your day?”—opens richer conversation.
-
Wear something bright on “Wear It Green Day” (Thursday of MHA Week) to invite questions and start mental‑health chats. Mental Health Foundation
-
Use free local assets: coastal‑path walking groups, library knit‑and‑natter, choir rehearsals at St David’s Cathedral.
A note for managers & team leaders
If you run a care rota, remember your community too:
-
Build a rota gap‑support WhatsApp so lone workers aren’t alone emotionally.
-
Offer one paid “community volunteering” shift per quarter—staff return re‑energised.
-
Share this blog internally; place helpline numbers on fridge magnets at every client property.
Closing thought
Community isn’t a buzz‑word—it’s the neighbour who knocks because your curtains stayed closed; the midnight Samaritan who answers on the third ring; the carer who sings while hoovering so the silence lifts.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s stitch those human threads a little tighter across Pembrokeshire. You are not a burden. You are not alone. And help is always just one conversation away.
