CA new wellbeing platform has been launched in Caerphilly County, designed to proactively tackle isolation by connecting individuals with local hobbies and communities. The initiative, named Gives You Joy, is the culmination of the founder’s personal twenty-year journey through severe mental illness and recovery.
The platform operates on the philosophy that sustainable mental health relies on building stability across ‘5 Pillars’: Family, Friends, Health, Career, and Finances. By helping people easily discover activities that foster genuine connection, Gives You Joy aims to provide the crucial community support that traditional medical interventions often overlook.
The founder’s own struggles began at the age of 18 when he was diagnosed with depression and prescribed Sertraline, feeling profoundly lonely and disconnected from his local community. Despite cycling through various antidepressants over the following years, the profound sense of isolation remained unaddressed. This eventually culminated in a severe crisis at age 23, leading to a hospital admission and a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. Following this, prescribed medication contributed to a rapid weight increase from 11 stone 5 lbs to 20 stone.
While volunteering with the Samaritans and regular exercise offered a positive path forward in his late twenties, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a devastating collapse of his support systems. Facing the end of his marriage, the tragic loss of his parents, and a derailed career without the ability to lean on friends, he reached another tipping point and was readmitted to hospital.
The turning point came between the ages of 32 and 35, where a dedicated focus on strengthening his 5 Pillars through joyful activities and supportive people enabled a true, lasting rebuild. Now aged 37, this transformative journey is the exact driving force behind the new Cwmfelinfach-based business.
“My goal is to help others avoid the mistakes I made by empowering them to discover activities that have a lasting, positive impact on their mental and physical health,” the founder stated. “By focusing on these connections, we can help people strengthen their own 5 Pillars and find a sustainable way to thrive.”
Gives You Joy is now inviting people across Wales to explore the platform, find their spark, and take a proactive step towards better mental health through community and play.