Mental health worker says COVID-19 has made mental health topic ‘more visible’

Published

5 years ago

September 1, 2021

Katherine Lewis

A Hywel Dda mental health worker voices how the pandemic has impacted the topic of mental health and made it more acceptable to talk about.

Katherine Lewis, Team Manager for the Older Adult Community Mental Health Team says it’s not surprising that mental health cases have increased since COVID-19.

“There was a lot of fear during the first COVID wave, as there was a lot of negative coverage in the tabloids.

“A lot of patients struggled. There was a lot of isolation, and the informal support they would receive from friends, neighbours and family had stopped.”

Katherine and her team cover the Pembrokeshire area, but mostly care for patients within their own homes.

“We’ll go out to see people with mental health problems that have also got severe or enduring health problems that impact on their function.

“There are risks involved. We provide assessment and interventions to minimise the risk involving wandering, aggression, distress and low mood, and hopefully promote recovery.”

Prior to the pandemic Katherine and her team would not wear uniform on shift, however uniforms were safer and practical after COVID-19 hit.

“Communication was quite difficult for people with dementia, not understanding the PPE and why we were wearing masks in their home.

“We had to keep reassuring them and explaining. But for people with dementia, particularly it can cause a lot of additional distress and difficulties.”

“We would provide letters in assessments for patients to be able to get out in the car, to minimise some distress that they felt.”

Care packages stopped during the pandemic to minimise contact, meaning patients weren’t receiving their regular visits from carers.

“When you’ve got someone with dementia those regular contacts with loved ones and carers are very important.

“The lack of fresh air, being out in nature, it can affect people’s mental health negatively if you haven’t got access to those resources.

“We were lucky that in quite a few areas in Pembrokeshire there’s still a sense of community and a lot of support going on.”

Katherine’s husband was working in Mumbai and quarantined alone for 7 months during the pandemic, before he retired and returned home in 2020.

“I did worry about his health because he had nobody there with him. I would have worried if he’d been quite unwell over there.

“Luckily, he didn’t catch COVID-19 while he was over there which is good. He then managed to come home in October.”

Katherine and her husband reside in Pembrokeshire, but they had previously lived abroad, in places such as Alaska and Texas.

“I would have found it really difficult to be living abroad during COVID-19and not be here to support my parents and my in-laws.

“I was glad to be home when it happened. I was very protective and didn’t want any of them leaving the house.

“I would do stuff for them. Whatever needed to be done if it would minimise the risk to them because they’re all over 70.”

Katherine also lives with her daughter who was home-schooled and working towards her GCSE qualifications during the pandemic.

“She was a lot of strength for me because she never complained once and she was always upbeat and helpful when I got home.”

Listen to Katherine’s full podcast here (also available on Spotify).

Listen to other episodes here

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

9 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

9 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

10 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.