A FLINTSHIRE woman has been recognised in the New Year's Honours List for her dedication to mental health services in North Wales.

June Lesley Lovell, a psychiatric nurse manager from Mold, is to receive the British Empire Medal (BEM).

The 61-year-old has created two, unique services that have helped many patients across North Wales and inspired and trained many professionals in the mental health field.

In 1994 she set up the Benzodiazepine Service, focused on people dependent on benzodiazepines such as minor tranquillisers and sleeping tablets.

She obtained funding to create and run this specialist service in Clwyd. Through her drive and determination, the service has been expanded to the whole of North Wales.

June pioneered the prevention aspect of the service to prevent clients becoming dependent in the first place. The service has approximately 300 patients on its books at any one time.

She is also part of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) for Prescribed Drug Dependence looking at the development of a Prescribed Medication Specialist Service across the United Kingdom.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is the only health board that has such a service in the UK.

June has been supporting and working with the APPG to develop a national specialist service and helpline, based on the service she created in North Wales. 

She obtained funding from the Health Board in 1995 to pay expenses for a team of eight volunteer student counsellors to support her work. Due to the success, she expanded the programme to support the Local Primary Mental Health Service across four counties in North Wales.

There are today 55 student counsellors, 20 self-employed paid counsellors, plus a further seven BCUHB employed counsellors. More than 500 student counsellors have been trained by the Service.