February 20, 2024 - 394 views
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing launches the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-harm Strategy for consultation.
“We need to think more broadly and creatively about how we support people’s mental health and wellbeing,” Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle said as she launched the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-harm Strategy for consultation today.
The draft strategies, out for consultation until 11 June, aim to change how we think about mental health, empower people to improve their mental health and remove the barriers and stigma around getting help.
With half of mental health conditions impacting people by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 23, there is a strong focus on prevention through ensuring everyone has equal access to the things they need to maintain good mental health, like exercise, the natural environment and belonging to the community.
There is also a focus on the wider causes of mental health and suicide prevention –including housing, employment and finances – and sets out work is needed across the whole Government and across sectors to improve mental health and wellbeing and to reduce suicide and self-harm in Wales.
Some groups are at greater risk of poor mental health than others and inequalities can contribute to poor mental health. This is why the strategies will promote equity of access, experience and outcome for all.
When people do need help, the strategies recognise that people’s needs are diverse and not everyone will need access to clinical or specialist mental health services. The aim is to build on the success of easy to access support like 111 press 2 and online cognitive behavioural therapy, alongside broader approaches to continue to improve support in schools and workplaces. This will provide a ‘no wrong door’ approach to support mental health and well-being.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the draft strategies, at The Hangout, Cardiff-based mental health and wellbeing hub for young people, the Deputy Minister of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle said:
"Good mental health is as critical to our wellbeing as physical health, and it is affected by so many things in our lives. It is not just a health and social care issue; we need all parts of society and Government to work together to help people maintain good mental health.
"We need to change how we talk about and support mental health issues, to better reflect the needs of individuals. We have listened to a range of views in developing the strategies and people have told us not to medicalise mental health. For most people, whilst they do need support, they don’t necessarily need clinical or specialised mental health services.
"Suicide and self-harm have a devasting impact on families, loved ones, professionals and communities. Whilst suicide and self-harm are complex, they are preventable and never inevitable.
"There is a prevailing misconception that people who die by suicide have a mental health problem or illness. This strategy will work to better understand the causes and who are the most vulnerable groups, so we can deliver rapid and impactful prevention, intervention and support".
