Clegg's pledge on mental health future on visit to region
Nick Clegg pledged that mental health would in the future be seen in the same way as physical health during a visit to Mid Wales.
It was the second visit to the Montgomeryshire constituency for the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister – and he hinted there could be another before the election in 30 days' time.
The seat was lost by Lembit Opik at the last General Election to Conservative Glyn Davies, and it is one being heavily targeted by the Liberal Democrats on behalf of parliamentary candidate Jane Dodds.
Nick Clegg found out that gardening really is a great stress buster when the Liberal Democrat campaign trail brought him to Mid Wales.
The Deputy Prime Minister helped plant out broad beans in the garden of the Ponthafren Association's Newtown headquarters.
The charity works with people living in rural Powys who have mental health issues.
Mr Clegg donned black gardening gloves before getting stuck into the task, helped by Liberal Democrat candidate for Montgomeryshire Jane Dodds, and Jan Rogers, a volunteer support worker and trustee of the charity.
Mrs Rogers, who has had mental health problems since being attacked while out running, told Mr Clegg that the garden was a great asset to the association, giving people the chance to get involved in horticultural tasks or to simply relax and enjoy its peace and calm.
And Mr Clegg agreed that the terraced garden overlooking the River Severn was, like Ponthafren, a real haven. He said mental health issues were a major part of the party's campaign.
"We still have a long way to go but bit by bit we are breaking down the stigma attached to mental health," he said. "We want to give places like Ponthafren the funding they deserve."
His visit came days after the Lib Dems pledged £8 billion to the NHS and Mr Clegg said £450 million of that would go directly to Wales.
He also backed Jane Dodds' call for an urgent care centre to be built in Montgomeryshire and for A&E services to be retained at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital so that mid Wales patients would not have to face the journey to Telford.
Yesterday Mr Clegg visited the Ponthafren Association headquarters – a converted house by the side of the River Severn in the centre of Newtown.
He was there to hear about the work of the association, a charity that caters for people who experience mental health issues.
During his visit, which lasted an hour and a half, the Deputy Prime Minister talked to many of those who use the services at Ponthafren and those who volunteer to help there.
He also braved the heat inside the Ponthafren garden greenhouse while the sun beat down outside and gave a hand in the Ponthafren garden, planting green beans with Jane Dodds and Jan Rogers.
Mrs Rogers began her association with the charity as a person in need of its services.
She has gone on, not only to be a mentor for the charity, but to play a key role in the review of the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice in England.
A keen athlete, Mrs Rogers, 52 from Sarn, was attacked while out running and suffered serious mental health problems because of the traumatic stress.
"Until I found Ponthafren I was existing but it wasn't living," she said.
"Now I have a life.
"I still have problems but here they don't matter so much.
"Ponthafren does so much good with so little funds.
"All age groups come here, from teenagers to one chap in his 70s who until last year would sit in Newtown every day drinking."
Mr Clegg said: "This is a remarkable place and it is so important that we have places like this across the country. It is a safe haven.
"The Liberal Democrats want to see mental health care and physical health care given the same status.
"We still have a long way to go but bit by bit we are breaking down the stigma attached to mental health."
"We want to give places like Ponthafren the funding they deserve."
Nicky Morris, association manager, said: "We welcome the Liberal Democrats' commitment to spend £3.5 billion more over the next parliament on mental health care in England and want to see this pledge inspire positive change.
"We want to see mental health issues taken seriously by government and local communities.
"We need waiting times for mental health therapies to fall and we have to see a drive for equality for people with mental health issues."
Nick Clegg's visit on Twitter:
Mr Clegg praised Jane Dodds for her campaign for better health services in general for the people of Montgomeryshire.
Ms Dodds told Mr Clegg: "Health services for the people of Montgomeryshire are being stretched in all directions.
"We risk losing the A&E services in Shrewsbury andservices at Bronglais Hospital could move to Camarthen.
"We need an urgent care centre for Montgomeryshire and we need to retain A&E at Shrewsbury."
After leaving Ponthafren, Mr Clegg spoke to a group of Lib Dem supporters in the town centre in Newtown before going to canvas local homes.
He told the group: "Without the Liberal Democrats can you just imagine a government run by David Cameron and Nigel Farage?
"Or one where Ed Milliband is told what to do by Nicola Sturgeon."
