The announcement of upcoming budget cuts in Wales is a painful situation with no single solution. What is clear is more cuts will deepen further the costs to our mental and physical health here in Wales. The affect will have lasting effects for generations.

Jen Daffin reflects on the recent Bevan Commission conference, and how solving the problems faced by the NHS will take more than just trying harder.

We have outgrown the story that people having a tough time with their mental health are just experiencing the fate of biology, genetic potluck and lacking ‘personal resilience’. If we understand that distress and mental health is not rooted in disease and pathology then it makes no sense to construct our understanding from this starting point.

This is why we believe change urgently needs to happen - to bring about an evolution in how we understand and respond to mental health.

Read the latest blog from Ewan, CEO at Platfform.

We must stop putting the issue of mental health onto the person and blame them or think of ‘them’ as second-class citizens but we must recognise the role adversity, trauma, distress and injustice have on our mental health.

Positive relationships have been talked about for a long time in housing and support. It’s not a new idea. However, with each year we see more often that our systems get in the way of building positive relationships.

'The energy price cap, while welcome, won’t address the fears of those dreading winter in a cold house. It won’t stop their savings being eaten away. And it won’t undo the damage done to our collective health’ - our Head of Policy explains the need for deeper change.

I have been on a significant learning journey during my time at Platfform, I am coming to understand more how our feelings about our work, and changes to it, can impact on how we act. It is why I am particularly proud of the Wisdoms work that we did alongside Caredig housing association.