Wrexham Forces Veteran Takes Part in ‘DIY SOS’ Challenge For Mental Health Unit Garden

A Gulf War veteran from Wrexham who suffered a heart attack after developing post-traumatic stress disorder is helping others with mental health problems.

Former Royal Army Medical Corp soldier Jason Samuels now mentors other forces veterans across both Wrexham and Flintshire.

Jason is also working with a team of ex-servicemen and women revamping gardens around the Ablett Psychiatric Unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

The team includes a Catering Corps servicewoman from Prestatyn who dealt with alcohol addiction after leaving the army on health grounds and the death of her baby son, along with a woman from Connah’s who is aiming for a military career.

The team is led by former Royal Artillery sergeant Ronnie Devlin, who worked alongside Prince William and Prince Harry in Nick Knowles’ DIY SOS challenge to build home for ex-soldiers in Manchester.

They are working with the Change Step programme, based in Colwyn Bay, which is led by CAIS and delivered throughout the country by Drug and Alcohol Charities Wales (DACW).

CAIS aims to empower positive changes in the lives of people affected by addiction, adverse mental health, unemployment, offending and other life challenges.

Jason said the Change Step project had altered his life.

The 44-year-old: “I served in the first Gulf War and was also based for a while in Germany. I left in 1993 suffering from PTSD and had no idea I was suffering from anything.

“But the simple truth is I just didn’t care about myself, or anything else for that matter. I ended up drinking heavily and self-medicating by smoking silly amounts of cannabis because I didn’t realise I had a problem.”

He added: “Change Step has been brilliant and helped get me sorted out. I was working as a security officer at Wrexham Maelor Hospital when I suffered a heart attack in June 2013. I had fantastic treatment at Wrexham and Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool.

“The hospital team at Wrexham put me in touch with Change Step and I ended up being mentored by Ronnie. It was so important this was someone who has been there seen it and done it.

“This was a guy who knew what I was going through because he’d been through it himself. That was massively important.

“I now mentor others in the Wrexham and Flintshire area for Change Step. I really enjoy what we do and we always make sure we have a laugh. It’s been great sorting out the garden here at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Ablett Unit.

“We certainly get a sense of pride and feel good about what we are doing. If we can make this garden area a pleasant place where patients can come and enjoy the surroundings then that has to be a good thing.”

The Change Step service, delivered by forces veterans, is for former servicemen and women with PTSD and other psychosocial problems who want to make positive changes to their lives.

At the Ablett unit the volunteers have spruced up the patients’ garden, renovated and stained garden benches and chairs and planted flowers and shrubs.

It means patients at the unit, run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, can enjoy fresh air and relaxation.

Stephen McCabe, assistant business manager and divisional health and safety lead for BCUHB’s Mental Health and Learning Disability Division, says he is delighted Change Step agreed to help improve the garden and outside area.

He said: “For some time now we have struggled to get some of our gardens in a reasonable order to enable patients to sit out and utilise their surroundings.

“We are delighted with the work the Change Step volunteers have done, which will benefit all our patients.