We need an urgent shift in the way we approach mental health
Platfform’s response to Senedd Health and Social Care Committee report, Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales.
Leading Welsh mental health charity, Platfform, champions calls for urgent change following the Senedd report into mental health inequalities in Wales published today.
Ewan Hilton, Chief Executive of Platfform, said, “This report is a much-needed breath of fresh air and gives a critical and timely challenge to our current system. We are proud to have contributed to the report in the inquiry, and delighted that the committee has captured so much of what needs to change in Wales and beyond.”
“This is a really exciting opportunity to move the conversation forward. The recommendations are detailed, thorough and provide a foundation we can build on. We fully welcome both the report and the recommendations”.
He continued, “the report clearly demonstrates how poverty and discrimination impact our mental health and that we need to tackle these root causes of distress to truly address poor mental health.
“Good mental health comes from having the essential building blocks in place: fair work, good pay, quality housing, good childcare, good education, access to transport, green spaces, inclusion, and opportunities for connection and relationships. Our services and systems now need to work together to make this happen”.
“It also opens the door for important conversations about the use of medication and diagnosis-led services in response to poverty and inequality. At Platfform, we have been leading that conversation in Wales and this report is a powerful vindication of that work, and the experiences of the people we work with.”
“For Wales, this needs to be the start of our journey to reform the mental health system alongside alternative ways understanding of distress as a normal response to difficult life experiences. We need an urgent shift in the way we approach mental health.”
