A post from Jacob Robertson in Mumbles, West Cross & Newton facebook page.

Please see my call for support for my mental health below. I have been suicidal and stuck in hospital since Feburary. I have made several attempts on my life this year yet I still don’t have the support I require and have in fact been made to feel worse by the very people that are meant to be helping me. My psychiatrist told me in a meeting ‘she’d come to the reality I could take my life early and might not get any help’. I’m only 18 and am struggling significantly. I should be in school with my mates enjoying life but a lack of support is preventing me from doing this. Mental health services in Wales are failing young people like myself and if they do not change lives like mine will continue to be put at risk. I would appreciate if you could take a moment today to read and sign my petition. I have also created a fundraiser should you feel you want to contribute towards my cause. Thank you. I would appreciate if you could share this if you are able too so I can raise awareness and hopefully get the support I require.

The petition:

You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/investigation-into-swansea-bay-mental-health-services-and-call-for-me-to-get-dbt?

My name is Jacob Robertson and I am an 18-year-old student who was admitted to Ward F, Swansea Bay University Health Board following a suicide attempt on 11th February 2025 and remained there until 23rd April 2025 when I was transferred to Cefn Coed Hospital. I am writing this petition not just on behalf of myself but to raise awareness of severe safety breaches, negligence, and mistreatment that I endured during my admission—and to help ensure that no other vulnerable patient is put at the same risk.

I was hospitalised after negligence by my local GP who prescribed me with the incorrect dosage of sertraline at 100mg, despite BMF guidelines clearly stating that 50mg is the starting dosage. My mental health difficulties have gotten worse from this point onwards. I have been diagnosed with eupd/borderline personality disorder, PTSD and GAD but the mental health services are still failing to provide me with the treatment I require.

I should be in school enjoying my life, like everyone else my age gets to. I should be going to Prom this Friday but can’t as I’m still stuck in hospital due to me not getting the support I need. I’m only 18 and am struggling significantly. The fact I’ve made several attempts on my life this year shows that, yet I’m still not getting the support I require. My life is at stake if I do not get the support I require. All I want is to be able to live a normal life.

Before my mental health crisis began, I was at Olchfa Sixth Form where I was studying a levels in Biology, Chemistry, Business and Welsh Bacc with myself having predicted grades of A*/A*/A*/A. I also have offers for Pharmacy at university. I usually work part time alongside my studies at a local ice cream parlour in Mumbles. I live at home in Swansea usually with my mother, step dad and younger brother. My life is currently on hold due to me not getting the support I need, and will continue to do so until my needs are met.

During my time on the ward, I experienced multiple failures in care, including:

1. Life-Threatening Safety Breaches
While detained and known to be at high risk of suicide, I was allowed to bring brazil nuts onto the ward via a Just Eat delivery, despite staff being fully aware of my life-threatening allergy. I consumed them in a suicide attempt, went into anaphylactic shock, and nearly died. The emergency ambulance team saved my life. This was entirely preventable had staff followed protocol and checked deliveries properly. I now have PTSD from this attempt.
On another occasion, while in a suicidal state, staff left the office door open, allowing me to escape the ward through the window and attempt to end my life. I was only found thanks to police intervention. Again, this was preventable had the ward been properly secured.
I also attempted to use an unsecured wardrobe in my room to harm myself. Even after this was reported, no measures were taken, and I remained in a room where I continued to feel unsafe.

2. Unprofessional Conduct and Dismissal of Psychiatric Risk

A nurse, Stephanie Williams, showed repeated unprofessionalism and outright hostility. I was once denied PRN lorazepam—medication prescribed by Dr. Provan—because I was told I was being “rude,” despite being in obvious distress. My request was refused on subjective grounds—staff stated I was “not anxious”—despite clear signs of agitation. I subsequently attempted to jump the ward fence to take my own life. The situation escalated further due to Stephanie Williams’ dismissive and accusatory conduct, including the claim that I “tried to jump the fence because I didn’t get my own way.” These remarks were not only false but demonstrated a lack of understanding and compassion towards individuals with EUPD

Stephanie later lied to my mother, claiming that no notes existed from meetings with Dr. Provan and falsely stating that I didn’t have PRN lorazepam—both of which were untrue. These weren’t harmless misunderstandings. They were intentional acts of deception that put my safety at risk and caused emotional harm to my family.

The most upsetting moment was when my mother came to the ward after another suicide attempt and was met with hostility from Stephanie, who falsely accused her of tipping a table towards staff—a claim that was fabricated, physically impossible (due to her disability), and contradicted by police witnesses and body cam footage. This lie made it into official handover notes, violating the GDPR Act and deepening our distress.

Other nurses also stated my “relationship with staff had broken down”—language that made me feel inhuman, beyond help, and directly contributed to a suicide attempt later on.

3. Psychiatric Negligence and Harmful Comments
Dr. Robertson, who replaced my original psychiatrist Dr. Provan without warning, was cold, dismissive, and frequently made comments that caused deep emotional harm. She told my mother to “get out” of meetings because she couldn’t answer basic questions about my care, dismissed concerns about my care and safety, and even told me to “discharge yourself if you’re not happy“—despite knowing I was actively suicidal.
She made deeply traumatic remarks such as “we’ll have to look into making you homeless” and stated she had come to the reality that “you could kill yourself and not get any help.” These statements left me emotionally broken and led to further suicide attempts. After one further suicide attempt she told me “we predicted you’d be back” This was to expected though as I was sent on leave from the ward without adequate support in place. Her behaviour was not isolated; other staff had noted her inappropriate tone and lack of empathy.

These remarks were not only offensive, but dangerously damaging to someone with EUPD, like myself. They echoed in my head during mindfulness practices and were a trigger for another suicide attempt. These are not the words of someone trying to help a vulnerable patient—they are words that cause harm.

4. Unlawful and Misleading Mental Health Assessments
In an assessment conducted by Dr. Sidiqui and Sian Heake, I was falsely told that being sectioned under Section 3 would prevent me from ever becoming a pharmacist or travelling abroad—statements that were inaccurate and coercive. This led me to be able to full disclose crucial information about my suicidal thoughts, and I made a serious suicide attempt shortly after.
Furthermore, though I was made an informal patient, I was told I wasn’t allowed to leave—this amounts to illegal de facto detention. Only after I raised the issue was it corrected.

5. Neglect by the Swansea Crisis Team
The Swansea Crisis Team failed me. Despite being told I would get daily support following an assessment at Port Talbot Hospital, this support never came. I was told the crisis team would visit me daily in the home yet they failed to do so which contributed to the deterioration of my mental state whilst I was in crisis. They also failed to visit me daily whilst on leave from the ward as promised. Calls for help were met with dismissiveness, and on one occasion, the phone was hung up on me. Swansea Crisis Team also stated once in a meeting they have no “concerns about my mental health” despite knowing I was actively suicidal as I’d expressed in my daily check in phone calls and had acted on previous suicidal ideation.
After expressing suicidal thoughts and requesting hospitalisation, I was sent home with only breathing exercises. I then attempted to take my life by climbing a four-story car park—an incident that police had to respond to. This could have been prevented.

6. Broken Promises and Chaotic Communication
Dr. Provan promised me a care coordinator and told me I could return to the ward during leave if I became distressed. Yet, when I desperately called back during a crisis, I was refused re-entry by nurse Stephanie—again, putting my life in danger.

Worse still, my care plan falsely stated there were “no psychological concerns,” despite my repeated suicide attempts and diagnosis. I was misrepresented to the Community Mental Health Team, delaying the DBT therapy I urgently need.

I’ve been constantly told my referral was “being chased,” only to find out it wasn’t. These lies, omissions, and miscommunications led to weeks of unnecessary suffering.

7. Delayed Access to Essential Therapy and Support
I was promised access to DBT therapy and a full-time care coordinator—both of which I still do not have. The CPN I’ve been assigned only works two days a week, which is completely inadequate for my diagnosis of EUPD, GAD and PTSD. I need consistent, full-time support and a support worker to cover any absences to ensure continuity. Several psychiatrists and a social worker have stated that I need this.
I have waited 11 weeks for a proper community mental health assessment and still do not have a written Care and Treatment Plan. I need inpatient therapy to stabilise, followed by long-term DBT in the community. I continue to experience daily suicidal thoughts and frequent self-harm, and the ongoing delays are putting my life at risk.

8. Failure to Provide Proper Documentation and Patient Rights:
I was repeatedly told that my referral for a care coordinator was being pursued, yet when I contacted the community mental health team directly, they informed me that no action had been taken. This failure in communication resulted in delays in receiving the critical support I need. Furthermore, I was denied access to my medical records, despite being legally entitled to them under the GDPR Act, and my consultant having given full approval. This failure to provide access to my own health records has hindered my ability to address these concerns in a timely manner.

I am only 18. I’ve been through trauma after trauma. I was bullied for several years whilst dealing with my Dad’s mental illness and the break down of my sister’s adoption. I’ve been isolated and excluded by people my own age. I’ve been through three schools and been bullied all through my comprehensive school years. I’ve been stalked in the gym and had harmful videos of me on a treadmill with derogatory comments about myself shared. I’ve been told ‘nobody likes me’, ‘everyone hates me’, ‘I’ll be beaten up’, ‘I’m a spec’, ‘to go kill myself‘.  These events have all contributed to my mental health conditions and poor mental health. A psychologist told I have been through more than the average 18 year old if not more than some go through in their life. All I’ve ever asked for is help—but the people meant to protect me and help me made me feel worse.

I am asking for:
• An independent investigation into the conduct of Ward F and the Swansea Crisis Team, with improvement in standards made.

• Acknowledgment of failures, and a public apology.

• Disciplinary review of staff involved, particularly Dr. Robertson and Nurse Stephanie Williams.

• Immediate action to ensure safe ward procedures, including delivery checks, secure furnishings, and proper patient observation.

• Guaranteed and timely access to:
• DBT therapy, starting during inpatient care;
• A full-time care coordinator and support worker

• A high level of support from Swansea Crisis Team upon my discharge with daily home visits in place so my needs are met

• A detailed, written Care and Treatment Plan.

• Immediate access to my medical records without further delay

• Enforcement of GDPR compliance regarding patient rights and record access.

•  A review of prescribing of antidepressants by GPs in Wales for young people such as myself and a review into the conduct of my GP at Mumbles Medical practice

• The Welsh Government to use my experience to date as a catalyst for change by making improvements to community mental health services and inpatient services in the Swansea Bay Health Board region

• A review of suicide preventation plans by the Welsh Government

NICE guidelines for the treatment of borderline personality disorder state ‘Patients should be treated with dignity and respect’ which has clearly not been the case given my experience to date.

Please, I’m asking for help. Since moving to Cefn Coed on 23rd April, things have improved but my care needs still aren’t being met. I’m asking for DBT therapy, a full time care coordinator, and a support worker who can provide the consistent care and understanding that I need to start recovering. Several psychiatrists have stated I need DBT therapy as the recommended treatment for my condition yet this still hasn’t been in place, alongside a full time care coordinator and support worker as my social worker recommended. I’m asking for the safety, respect, and dignity that every human deserves. I am not just a case number or another person to be ignored. I am a young person fighting for my life, and I need a system that can help me win this fight.

Every day I deal with:

• Overwhelming emotions that come on suddenly and intensely.

• Self-destructive urges that are frightening and often feel impossible to control.

• Flashbacks and trauma triggers that leave me dissociated for hours.

• Crippling anxiety and an inability to regulate fear and panic in everyday situations.

• Interpersonal chaos

• Suicidal thoughts and ideation

These symptoms are not going to disappear without structured and intensive treatment. I’ve done my research, spoken to professionals. I know that DBT is the therapy that can help me build the skills I need to survive.

DBT isn’t just another talking therapy. It provides:

• Emotion regulation strategies to help me understand and manage overwhelming feelings.

• Distress tolerance tools that are crucial in crisis moments, helping me stay safe instead of harming myself.

• Interpersonal effectiveness techniques to maintain healthier relationships and communicate my needs more clearly.

• Mindfulness training that grounds me in the present moment, reducing the impact of trauma and anxiety.

All of these things are critical for someone like me. Without them, I’m left in a constant loop of emotional instability and self-destruction.

My experiences on Ward F have only reinforced the feeling that I am being failed by a system that should be helping me. On Ward F, I felt trapped. I had very little engagement with staff, and when I did speak to someone, it felt like they were only doing the bare minimum. I would try to express how unsafe and overwhelmed I felt, but often, my concerns were dismissed. The ward was filled with a sense of neglect; people who were clearly in distress were left to struggle without meaningful intervention. I remember feeling like I was invisible — I was just another patient in a system that wasn’t listening. Instead of feeling safe and supported, I felt isolated and overlooked. The ward felt more like a holding place than a place for recovery. I remember sitting in the day room for hours with nothing to do, feeling the weight of my struggles grow heavier with every minute. I was unable to access the kind of therapeutic support I desperately needed, and my emotional state only worsened as the hours turned into days. The few moments I did have with staff often felt like they were just going through the motions, not truly seeing me as an individual in need of care. I do not want to go through this again. I do not want to be left alone when I am at my most vulnerable.

✊ Stand With Me
I don’t want pity. I want justice. I want to be heard. I want other young people in crisis to be safe and treated like human beings.

Please sign this petition if you believe:

• Mental health care should never cause more trauma
• No young person should be left to fight for their survival alone
• People like me deserve support, not silence.

Please support this petition to ensure no other vulnerable young person is placed at risk like I was. I am calling on the Welsh Government to use my poor experience to date as a catalyst for change. The mental health services are failing young people such as myself in Wales and need to do better.

Many thanks for your support. I also want to add thanks to my friends and family who have been here for me through what continues to be a very difficult time in my life.

All details provided are correct and accurate and can be evidenced by my medical records. If you believe you can support please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, as I campaign for the help I deserve and also others like me who are less able to speak up.

Please share and also see my fundraiser by clicking here if you can support. Fundraiser

Kind regards,

Jacob Robertson

https://www.change.org/p/investigation-into-swansea-bay-mental-health-services-and-call-for-me-to-get-dbt?

Tonia Antoniazzi, Labour MP for Gower, is facing growing public criticism following a series of actions on her official political Facebook page. Most notably, she has blocked constituents from commenting or engaging with her posts—raising serious questions about free speech, transparency, and possible breaches of UK human rights obligations.

The controversy began when Antoniazzi posted a message expressing appreciation for nurses, a gesture generally seen as supportive. However, shortly thereafter, she made another post referencing “cheap foreign labour”—a phrase that many have condemned as inflammatory and exclusionary, particularly given the vital role that foreign workers play in the UK’s National Health Service. The contrast between the two posts has sparked a wave of concern from constituents, some commenting on her posts. Tonia simply blocked and did not engage. Blocking people from a political social media page is needed if the people are abusive. However, blocking people who are not abusive and blocking them purely because the MP does not agree with being held to account, or being exposed for their hypocrisy is arguably against applicable legislation.

Matters escalated when individuals who criticised or questioned her statements found themselves blocked from her page. As this is a platform she uses to communicate in her capacity as a public official, this has serious legal and ethical implications.

Under the UK Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Article 10 protects the right to freedom of expression. This includes the right to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority. When elected representatives use social media to conduct official business and communicate with the public, they should not restrict or ban people (unless acting illegally) as public discussion and holding to account is a necessity.
Blocking constituents can infringe upon their rights under Article 10—particularly when there is no reasonable justification or process of appeal.

Further, Article 14 of the ECHR prohibits discrimination in the enjoyment of these rights, which adds additional weight to concerns that individuals may have been silenced for their views or background.

It is important to note that while social media pages are not inherently public forums, when an MP uses a platform to share policy views, government-related updates, and engage with constituents, they may be held to a higher standard of accountability. Legal precedent is still developing in this area, but similar issues in other jurisdictions (such as the U.S. case against Trump) have shown that blocking constituents can be found unlawful when it limits democratic participation.

We intend to pursue this matter legally. We believe that no one should be silenced for asking questions of their elected representative, or pointing out any hypocrisy,  especially on matters of public concern. Blocking users in this context undermines accountability and democratic engagement.

We will be seeking further legal advice to explore our options under UK law and the Human Rights Act. Updates on the progress and outcome of this case will be posted publicly, as we believe transparency is essential in holding public officials to account.

At the time of writing, Antoniazzi has not publicly addressed these concerns. We urge her to clarify her position, reconsider her approach to public discourse, and ensure her communications are in line with both legal obligations and the values of an open democracy.

Tonia Antoniazzi (above) writes in facebook:  “Today on #InternationalNursesDay I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every nurse working across Gower and beyond. You are the beating heart of our NHS.”

Contrast her heartfelt message above with the below which states “cheap, foreign labour”:
The hypocritical posts from Tonia has seen a backlash of comments, some of which are published below:

“No your pandering to the far right and reform, your handing power into reforms hands, trying to compensate with sound bites for the fact that you havnt actually improved workers lives since regaining power.”

“Are you happy with the language that your leader used and the lurch to the right?”

“Well, your true colours are showing. We need Immigration to prop up the Care Sector. I didn’t vote Labour to have a government that are racist and target the most vulnerable ( I’m referring to the PIP issue). You won’t even reply to our emails. Why don’t you just join Farage instead of pretending?”

“Thank you for not standing up for the thousands of immigrants workers holding our NHS together and that drive economic diversification through bringing new ideas, products and ways of thinking to our economy. They fuel dynamism in our economy.Demonising immigrants is just legitimising Farage and his racist nonsense and lurching this country towards Trumpian fascism”

“What a disgusting thing to say. People who choose to live and work in the Uk should be valued and appreciated, not dismissed as, ‘cheap’ and ‘foreign.’ You sound more like a Faragist than a socialist.”

“Shameful Tonia.”

Tonia has been contacted in relation to the contrast between the two posts in addition as to why she is actively blocking people from commenting on her political page.
Any updpates or response from Tonia will be posted in addition to any court ruling in relation to Tonia blocking people for no valid reason from her political page.

Update 13/05/2025:  A complaint was sent to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and copied to Tonia, any response will be updated here.
The post from Tonia which saw the words “cheap, foreign labour” has now been deleted. However, despite Tonia deleting this, the screenshot and some of the comments are preserved above.

Food banks and food shares are pillars of support within our communities, providing essential supplies to individuals and families in need, often operating on thin margins with limited resources. When resources meant for community aid are diverted to private businesses for profit, it represents a serious breach of trust and exploitation of a system designed to help the most vulnerable.

The Case of Ty Fforest’s Foodbank and Deshi Spice, Swansea

The Ty Fforest Foodshare operates on the principle that food donations should be distributed to benefit the community, helping to reduce waste and landfill.  This system relies on the dedication of volunteers and the good faith of community members, businesses, and organisations that support it. Recently, however, an unsettling practice has come to light: Deshi Spice, an Indian food business, has been acquiring bulk food items from the Ty Fforest Foodshare presumably to cut costs on ingredients for its own profit making operations.

This misuse of resources is deeply troubling. Food items like naan breads, peppers, and onions—essential ingredients in Indian cuisine—are being taken in bulk, not for community redistribution, but for business profit. Such actions raise significant ethical concerns and highlight a clear lack of respect for the foodsjare’s intended purpose.

The Impact on the Community

The Ty Fforest Foodshare has limited resources. Ty Fforest receives no government funding and relies on its own internal fundraising to continue its vital services. Every time an item is taken for business use, it directly affects the supply available to struggling families and individuals. When a business diverts these resources, it deprives a family of a meal, a single parent of essential groceries, or a senior citizen of a lifeline. Food banks and shares are meant to be sanctuaries of generosity and care, not free suppliers for businesses looking to boost profit margins.

Those who rely on the Ty Fforest Foodshare for daily sustenance are often in dire financial situations, facing unemployment, low wages, or health issues. Others more fortunate are still welcome to the foodshare (as there is no criteria) – it is simply to avoid waste and reduce landfill. For these individuals, food banks are not merely convenient—they are essential. Diverting resources meant for these individuals to fuel private profit is not only exploitative but also morally reprehensible.

Ethical Concerns and Broken Trust

The concept of a food bank hinges on integrity and community trust. Individuals and organisations donate to food banks with the understanding that their contributions will go directly to those who truly need it. Businesses that take advantage of these charitable efforts for personal gain breach this trust and diminish the goodwill that sustains food banks.

This issue reflects a deeper disregard for community well-being. Deshi Spice, by allegedly sourcing ingredients from a food bank, is profiting off the goodwill meant to alleviate food insecurity. This goes against the very principles of ethical business and community responsibility. It is particularly disheartening when a local business, one that could otherwise uplift and strengthen its community, exploits the resources meant to benefit it.

A Call for Accountability

It’s essential that food banks and food shares implement safeguards to prevent exploitation by for-profit entities. Measures such as monitoring distributions, verifying the recipients’ needs, and collaborating with community oversight committees can help ensure that donations reach those who genuinely need them.

Businesses that exploit these charitable systems should be held accountable, whether through public awareness, boycotts, or local legislation to address misuse of charity resources.

Conclusion

The actions of Deshi Spice in sourcing bulk ingredients from Ty Fforest Foodshare for profit undermine the spirit of charity and community welfare. Such exploitation is a clear violation of moral standards, and it’s crucial that the community speaks out to prevent further abuse. Food banks should exist as safe havens for the vulnerable, not as loopholes for business savings. This situation serves as a somber reminder that, while generosity and kindness are the bedrock of community support, accountability and oversight are equally necessary to ensure these values are upheld.

Deshi Spice has been approached for a comment, an update will appear if they provide a comment.

One volunteer from Ty Fforest states:
“Ty Fforest runs multiple vital services, from providing hot meals to vulnerable and homeless individuals through our outreach team to offering crisis support, domestic violence assistance, and aid for those in the sex trade. In addition, we operate a food bank and food share program to ensure that the community’s most at-risk members have access to the basics. All of this is made possible by dedicated volunteers, who give their time, energy, and even their own fuel—entirely for free—to make sure that those in genuine need receive appropriate help.

For a profit-making business to repeatedly attend our food bank and food shares, only to take the entire stock of naan breads, peppers, and onions—ingredients they later use for profit—is nothing short of appalling. It’s an abuse of trust and a betrayal of the very spirit of community care that Ty Fforest stands for.”