SUPPORT groups held by an Amman Valley depression group will be free to attend until April.
Shadows Depression Support Group has been able to make its regular weekly group – and new groups – support sessions free again thanks to funding from generous backers including Cwmamman Town Council who have provided £3,000 until April to keep one of the services going.
The group – which is based in the Cadet Hut, Cwmamman Park Road, Garnant- is now also hosting sessions in the Gwendraeth Valley – and has helped thousands of people over the past few years, with free support whether in one of the group sessions or with 1-2-1 support, but when funding from the Amman and Gwendraeth GP cluster came to an end in September and Shadows was unable to gain substantial replacement funding, founder Louise Craik and her team had to make the difficult decision to charge a small fee for all of the sessions.
But now, the group sessions are free again after a number of funding sources were secured, which ensures that this vital service can be delivered to all who need it.
“One of our support groups was extremely well attended,” said Ms Craik. “But when we started to charge, we did see a drop off in people attending, but since we started offering it for free again, we have already seen an increase in people attending which shows that it is vital that we are able to offer the service for free to provide support for as many people as possible.”
Shadows is offering men’s support groups, a general mental health support group and a new violence against women, domestic abuse, sexual violence (VAWDASV) group as well as suicide prevention awareness sessions and open days, grief and loss groups, anxiety groups and chronic pain groups.
All of these sessions take place in the Garnant base, but there are also a number of sessions being held in across the Gwendraeth Valley, which you can see in more details in the accompanying images.
Whilst the group sessions are now free of charge, the 1-2-1 sessions still have a small cost, however, anyone who is in crisis and needs support can access Shadows for free.
Anyone who is struggling with their mental health should visit one of Shadows’ support groups, call 07957273625 or email shadowsdepression18@yahoo.com. For more information on the services available, visit www.facebook.com/BeatDepressionDontLetItBeatYou
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here