Labour Candidate Highlights Mental Health Awareness Week

Labour Candidate Highlights Mental Health Awareness Week – Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Catherine Fookes, visited the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service (GDAS) in Chepstow last week to meet with Kaleidoscope CEO Martin Blakebrough and learn about the support GDAS provides for those struggling with drug and alcohol use.

Statistics show that Monmouthshire has the highest rate of problematic alcohol use among the five areas in Gwent. Over the past year, GDAS treated more than 500 people in Monmouthshire, offering services ranging from innovative online programs like “Breaking Free Online” to structured one-on-one support focusing on psychological and social factors.

Recent data reveals that 65% of GDAS service users were men, which is lower than the Welsh average of 71% men and 29% women.

Due to the fact that women are less likely to seek help, often due to experiences of violence against them, they are notably underrepresented in drug and alcohol services throughout the UK.

To tackle this issue, GDAS has focused on establishing women’s groups to provide safe and supportive environments for women addressing their substance use issues.

Presently, the organization is addressing emerging threats such as the proliferation of nitizines, a synthetic opioid associated with fatal drug overdoses, by conducting trials of self-testing kits.

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Martin Blakebrough, CEO of Kaleidoscope, expressed, “We were pleased to have Catherine visit our services. Our discussions centered on how to bring tangible change to individuals struggling with drug and alcohol issues.

We also talked about the shortcomings of the UK Government’s response to drugs and the importance of adopting a health-based approach, similar to the strategy of the Welsh Labour Government.

The punitive approach taken by the UK Government is unsustainable, leading to overcrowded prisons and offering no meaningful support to those battling addiction.”

Catherine Fookes commented, “GDAS plays a crucial role in supporting individuals grappling with substance use. Their diverse range of interventions, from online platforms to specialized mental health assistance, is making a significant impact on lives in Monmouthshire.”

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Source: monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk

Fidel Perez

A graduate of Computer Science and Information Management Technology. Diploma – Caregiving, Certificates – Dementia and Diabetes Awareness and Management. A researcher, blogger, songwriter, singer and acoustic guitarist. Born in an environment where natural talents such as healing are imparted at our natural birth. This natural talents of healing is the result of our genetic inheritance and the training from family environment.