Tidy Butt joins us to discuss mental health in Wales from the perspective of community, connection, and lived experience rather than just policy or crisis management. With an emergency mental health tribunal bill being fast-tracked through the Senedd, the public conversation has focused mostly on politics and procedure, but we wanted to understand what moments like this reveal about stigma, support systems, and the day-to-day realities faced by people struggling long before they meet the state.
In this conversation, we speak with Matt Creel, founder of Welsh mental health charity Tidy Butt, about why the organisation started, who it is for, and how third sector support can sit alongside (and sometimes fill gaps left by) clinical services. We explore the importance of belonging, the barriers men face in asking for help, and the challenges of navigating neurodiversity diagnoses in a system with long waiting lists and no Right to Choose scheme. At the heart of the episode is the idea that mental health is not only about treatment or crisis, but about community, dignity, and understanding.
Key Takeaways:
To contact us about this podcast, please email the podcast lead, Kaiesha Page - kaiesha.page@talking.wales.
Where to find us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingwales/#
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingwales
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@talkingwales
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talking.wales
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkingwales
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-wales/posts/?feedView=all
