Healing The Wounds, the Welsh charity which helps treat PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), has just completed its first ‘treatment mission’ in North Wales.
The charity’s treatment practitioners went on the road to treat two veterans of the 1 Royal Welsh and 1 Rifles regiments.
“It’s the first time we’ve been able to extend our ground-breaking treatment programme into North Wales,” said charity founder and executive director Kevin Richards.
“In recent weeks, there has been a huge amount of publicity about PTSD and the need for successful treatment programmes such as the ones we run.
“We have a waiting list of people queuing up for treatment and we were glad of the opportunity to take our programme into North Wales.
“It’s the first time we’ve been able to run a treatment course in North Wales, but it won’t be the last. We are a Welsh charity providing treatment services in Wales and that means delivering our services to all four corners of Wales whenever possible.
“In an ideal world, we would be providing our services from a residential centre in Wales, but that dream is still to be fulfilled. While we work towards that goal, our mission will be to provide frontline treatment to the brave men and women who need treatment for PTSD.
“The recent tragic death of Lance Sergeant Dan Collins from Tiers Cross, near Haverfordwest, has highlighted the need for proper treatment for victims of PTSD.
“Our treatment programmes work. Lives can be saved. We can rebuild lives which have been shattered by PTSD.”
The charity was able to deliver the treatment programme in North Wales thanks to the help of The Union of Welsh Independents – ‘Annibynwyr’, the association of independent Welsh chapels and churches.
The Union arranged for the charity to use the facilities at Capel Ebeneser in Wrexham.
Treatment practitioner and charity co-founder Carol Richards said: “The Reverend Trevor Jones-Morris was very kind to us at Capel Ebeneser and made everyone feel at home.
“We were also very grateful for the help of Alun Lenny, who is the publicity officer for The Union and the current Town Sheriff of Carmarthen.
“Without the help of The Union, the treatment programme would not have been possible in North Wales.
“Thanks to The Union, we were able to deliver the treatment to two veterans and they were profoundly grateful for the opportunity. It has made a world of difference to their lives.”
Mr Lenny said: “The Union has been a supporter of the Healing The Wounds charity since the day it was launched. It was a pleasure to be able to provide help and support for the North Wales treatment programme.
“Hopefully, members of the public will appreciate the good work carried out by the charity and will contribute enough funds to allow Healing The Wounds to extend their treatment programmes.”
For more information, see the charity’s website is at http://www.healingthewounds.co.uk
