Lynne Wheeler

My professional interest in mental health began in 1995 when I secured a job as a nursing assistant in the newly opened (at the time!) inpatient mental health unit in Wrexham, Llwyn y Groes. Due to my own and family members personal experience of mental health struggles, this job role soon made me realise that I had found a career I was passionate to pursue, so in 1998, I began my mental health nurse training with Bangor University. Once qualified, I worked in Substance Use Services in Wrexham until 2013; an area of practice that I am proud to have worked within and met many inspiring individuals along the way.

I then moved to work within Primary Care Mental Health in Wrexham and found my interest for group work. There is nothing like bringing a group of people together from various walks of life, and watching the connections develop from a shared understanding of the difficulties in life. It was during this time in my life that I discovered the value of mindfulness and self-compassion. I embarked on a personal journey with a daily mindfulness practice, and after four years of embedding this practice in my own life, began a Masters in Mindfulness Based Approaches with Bangor University in 2017. My thesis was a deeply personal Autoethnography of my experience as a working class gay woman becoming a mindfulness teacher.

I secured a job as a lecturer in mental health nursing here at the university in January 2023 which brings together my love of all things mental health and working with groups. I teach on the Promoting Healthy Behaviours and Vulnerability in Society Modules, as well as the Acute and Chronic Care Across the Lifespan in Mental Health and the Holistic Co-Ordination of Complex Care in Mental Health modules, for the BN, MSc, and Part Time programmes.

I am passionate about raising the voices of those from underrepresented groups in education and healthcare, with a particular affiliation to people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and the LGBT community. Seeing someone "like you" in perceived powerful positions is vital as it creates a sense of belonging and inspiration for those of us from marginalised communities.

Outside of work, you will find me spending time with my ever inspiring son, my dog, and my wider family. I love camping and music, especially music that is live and loud! I have a very eclectic taste! One of my favourite weekends of the musical year is Focus Wales festival in Wrexham.