It is with great sadness that we mourn Anthea Bowen  who passed away at the age of 35

Anthea, a well loved and respected  friend, sister, daughter, died suddenly at Nevil Hall hospital on January 2nd 2009.   Neighbours and friends in Llangnidr, Talybont and Crickhowell will sorely miss Anthea's kindness in their daily lives.

Anthea in recent years had succumb to mental health and alcohol issues that blight so many modern lives and the stigma of which we should all bear burden for.  These problems had, however, not dented her considerable wit and will and she maintained close relationships with many local people.

She begun to suffer mental health issues in her 20's as so often happens and as a consequence of this sought solace in alcohol.  Here acute analysis of people was not muddied by her increasing consumption and her depth of reflection on the human condition was a joy to those who knew her and loved her.

The caged bird sang too briefly

The stigma of mental health and its symptoms is something we all ought take responsibility in challenging.  Mental Health provision through the NHS in Wales could be significantly improved and through the work of charities such as Gofal Cymru we can fill the gap in this provision.

Mental Illness affects one in four of us and the numbers are rising.  There is not a family that has not or will not be affected to some extent.  Gofal Cymru supports people to recover, challenges stigma and campaigns for change.

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