All Wales Mental Health Strategy

All Wales Mental Health Strategy

Launched in 2001, "Adult Mental Health Services for Wales: Equity, Empowerment, Effectiveness, Efficiency" sets out the Welsh Assembly Government's vision for mental health services for the following ten years. This strategy lays down the Welsh Assembly Government's plans to modernise and develop mental health services in Wales to a position where they provide the best possible care for those with mental health problems.

Successful implementation of the Strategy will depend on:

• Closure of the remaining large Victorian institutions and replacement with modern facilities
• Availability of psychotherapy services in all areas
• Strengthening of advocacy services
• Timely and appropriate assessments for all patients
• Additional staff to ensure effective liason between mental health teams and other NHS services and the courts
• The establishment of a multi-disciplinary group to oversee implementation
  
  
  Four principles underpin the Strategy. These are:

Equity - services that are available to all and allocated according to individual need
Empowerment - users and their carers are to be fully involved in the planning delivery and evaluation of services
Effectiveness - services should be effective in improving quality of life by treating symptoms and causes, preventing deterioration, reducing potential harm and assisting rehabilitation
Efficiency - services should offer best value and be accountable to the public

The key Aims of the Strategy are:

Aim 1
To educate the public about the effective treatments of mental illness to develop positive attitudes and reduce stigma. To incorporate mental health into the wider health, well-being and social agenda. To ensure good mental health promotion is at the heart of our approach to services.

Aim 2
To provide equal access to mental health services for all the people of Wales, irrespective of where they live, their age, gender, sexuality, disability, race, ethnicity or their social, cultural and religious background.

Aim 3
To include users and carers in the planning, commissioning and delivery of services and take account of individual preferences and lifestyles.

Aim 4
To ensure close co-operation between social services, health authorities and the voluntary and private sectors in order to commission effective, comprehensive and co-ordinated mental health services.

Aim 5
Provide support which will enhance the ability to cope, with the individual remaining in control of their lives and to facilitate integration of mental health service users in all aspects of community life.

Aim 6
To assess the medical, psychological and social needs of service users and carers at an appropriate time and with reviews at regular intervals.

Aim 7
To provide effective and high quality care based on the best evidence and including provision for medical, psychological and social needs for service users and carers.

Aim 8
To provide mental health services in settings that are fit for purpose providing dignity and privacy.

Aim 9
Protect users, carers and the public from avoidable harm while respecting the rights of users and their carers.

Aim 10
To ensure good communication and co-ordination between different parts of the mental health service in order to provide efficient, responsive and seamless care.

Aim 11
To recruit and retain highly trained staff of all disciplines who are confident of their skills and have high morale.

The Strategy included an intention to produce a National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health in Wales at an early stage to assist with its implementation. This NSF was published as planned in 2002, but it proved to be an ineffective document and was replaced by a new NSF in 2005. This is summarised on our page on the National Service Framework.

To download the strategy, click here.

The Stragegy included an intention to produce a National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health in Wales at an early stage to assist with its implementation. The NSF was published as planned in 2002, but it proved to be an ineffective document and was replaced by a new NSF in 2005. This is summarised on our page on the National Service Framework.