National Eisteddfod 2024

On Friday 9 August, RCPsych Wales enjoyed a warm and sunny day out at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol (National Eisteddfod) in Pontypridd.

The National Eisteddfod is Europe’s largest cultural festival, attracting over 160,000 visitors annually. Based on almost 850 years of tradition, the festival is a celebration of Welsh arts, language and culture. It travels around Wales every year, visiting a different part of the country for the first week of August. This year, it was Rhondda Cynon Taf’s turn to host the event, with festivities being centred on Ynysangharad Park.

Wales has long been known as the land of song and poetry, and the National Eisteddfod epitomises this. Throughout the week, a diverse range of competitions take place at the Pafiliwn (Pavilion) for people of all ages, including singing, instrumental, recitation and dancing.

The preventive and therapeutic benefits of arts engagement in relation to mental health are well documented. A 2019 scoping review by the World Health Organization, for example, evidenced the potential value of the arts in helping to prevent the onset of mental illness and age-related physical decline, and in supporting the treatment or management of mental illness and neurological disorders.

It is particularly welcome, therefore, that the Welsh Government’s long-term Priorities for Culture in Wales (currently out for consultation) recognise the power of the arts, culture and creativity in supporting individual and community wellbeing, and in developing creative solutions to social challenges.

The Eisteddfod site, known as the Maes, is home to a plethora of non-competitive events and activities which are open to all. These vary from daily Welsh language morning yoga sessions to evening gigs by various Welsh music legends, including Dafydd Iwan and pop group Eden. Symbolically, this year saw the first Welsh-language khutbah (sermon) at the Eisteddfod's mosque.

Several of this year’s talks and discussion panels also had a health focus to them, including Speaking Welsh with a Doctor: A right or a nightmare?, Digital medicines: Good for patients and The future of digital healthcare in Wales. There was even a Dr.doctor Game to give children a taste of life as a medic.

Around 150 organisations host stalls each year at the Eisteddfod, showcasing and promoting their work. It was great to see key partners on the Maes in Pontypridd, including Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, the Welsh Government, Senedd Cymru and the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The voluntary sector hub also provided a space to learn more about the important work of national and local charities, including Adferiad Recovery, Samaritans Cymru, Time to Change Wales, New Horizons: Improving Mental Health Locally, Papyrus: Prevention of Young Suicide, and Dementia Friendly Pontypridd.

At Maes D (the Welsh learners’ Village) it was a pleasure to speak with colleagues from the National Centre for Learning Welsh and to highlight how the College is supporting the Welsh Government’s More than Just Words Welsh language plan for health and social care. If you’re a psychiatrist working in Wales and would like to access free Welsh lessons in your workplace, please register your interest.

Diolch yn fawr (thank you) Rhondda Cynon Taf for hosting an inclusive, safe and accessible Eisteddfod. All eyes now turn to Wrexham, with the festival to be held in the city in August 2025.