The Welsh Government has introduced a new strategy taking a broader approach to supporting mental health, emphasising the importance of exercise and community. 

The draft strategies aim to change the stigma around getting help and empower people to improve their mental health.

With half of mental health conditions impacting people by the age of 14 and 75 per cent 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.

The strategy is also putting a stronger focus on the wider causes of mental health and suicide prevention, including housing, employment and finances.

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.

Lynne Neagle, deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing, is launching the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-harm Strategy for consultation.

She said: “We need to think more broadly and creatively about how we support people’s mental health and wellbeing.

"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."

She added that support should not just take the form of clinical or specialised mental health services, but should also reflect the needs of individuals to give them the right support.