It’s time for real change in Wales; for us to hear the voices of activists, people with lived experience of poor mental health, and staff within the system who have seen things not working. For their tireless campaigning to be reflected and enshrined in Government intent – and for that intent to turn into tangible action. It’s starting to look like it might just happen.

Healthy people build healthy communities

We have been really excited and encouraged to see the Welsh Government’s mental health and wellbeing strategy talking about mental health in a holistic, whole system way. This matters, because we know that our mental health is largely determined by our circumstances, and that therefore the solution can’t solely be in mental health services.

So we have to go beyond individualised, symptomatic treatment, into the communities that surround us. And those communities, which can hold generations of trauma and collective pain, need to be able to heal.

This strategy creates the foundations for us to, collectively, start to do that. It spans every stage of life, from key formative relationships in early years and adolescence, through to tackling loneliness and isolation when we’re older – and every stage in between. It recognises the need for community connection and peer-led support throughout our lives.

And, within Vision Statement 1, it lays out the need to underpin those communities with access to opportunities and resources. Healthy people help build healthy communities, and communities, in turn, support people, creating an upward spiral.

Within mental health support services, we know that we need least restrictive, human trauma-informed approaches that are based on human rights and informed consent, and that are embedded within our communities. There’s hope that the strategy moves us towards that: within Vision Statement 3 and 4, there’s a focus on co-ordination with wider social systems, like education and housing. This places support within the  context of people’s lives, helping address what’s causing distress, and offering interventions that meet our needs holistically.

This means that we should start to see the right conditions emerge for support that can take into account the bigger picture of our past experiences and current circumstances. And, importantly, the focus on prevention and community resilience will bring a lower overall need for support, so services will be spending less time running on burnout.

We don’t exist in isolation – and our mental health doesn’t either

By focusing on the social determinants of mental health, and following that into the need for community resources, seamless support services, and connection as intervention, the Welsh Government mental health strategy builds a framework for each of us to be supported as our needs and circumstances change.

The networks that surround us – whether that’s the people we can turn to for support, the opportunities we can access, or interconnected and easy-access support services – are the central pillar of the strategy.

There’s recognition here that our mental health doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s affected by our circumstances and experience, in the same way that we, as people, influence and are influenced by those around us. Put simply – the strategy understands that there’s a bigger picture happening for all of us, and it’s there that we’ll find the things that cause our distress, and that will help us to heal.

It’s a far cry from the outdated, medicalised, “find the problem within the individual” view of the world.

The commitments to make it happen

Our next task is to make it a reality and put it into practice. This will mean we need to lean into our differences, and rebuild trust between people and services. We must work together, across sectors and within communities, to create the conditions for good mental health; for us all to thrive.

Our unique nation already has great foundations to build on; Wales has world-first legislation recognising the need to improve whole population wellbeing now and for future generations – with responsibility to act sitting across all government departments and sectors, not just Health.

And we’ve seen clear signs that Welsh Government want to move in the right direction when it comes to addressing the social determinants of mental health, and enabling communities to thrive – the Connected Communities Strategy (2022) and the Connecting the Dots (2022) are just two examples of progress.

Now, with the Senedd elections on the horizon, we need to make sure that the momentum and commitments that the strategy brings don’t get lost amid the electioneering. This strategy is of material importance to every person in Wales; however the balance of the Senedd looks after the elections, our leaders will still need to make this a priority.

Wales needs an approach to mental health that is specifically fit for Wales: for our existing infrastructure, for our collective history, and for our sharded culture. One that recognises Wales today, and that learns from where have been – particularly when it comes to the stories and struggles that our communities hold.

Because community is what Wales is known for. It’s who we are, together. If this strategy is delivered as set out, it could be what we need to harness that history, recognise the healing power within our communities, and turn the tide on mental ill health.

What does community mean to you, and what helps you connect with the people around you? We’d love to hear your thoughts – answer just one question at the link below, and help inform how Platfform understands community connection.

Tell us what community means to you