The Welsh Government has today launched a 12-week consultation on “Together for Mental Health – A Cross-Government Strategy for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales”.
Speaking about the Strategy the Health and Social Services Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “At its very heart it embeds the Mental Health (Wales) Measure which places new duties on health boards and local authorities.
“The strategy aims to address the needs of people with mental health problems or a mental illness and improve mental wellbeing.
“It covers all ages and seeks to engage all sectors in Wales to deliver its ambitions.”
Lee McCabe, a Practice Leader at Hafal with personal experience of serious mental illness, said: “On an initial reading we think that there is much that is good in the new Strategy and that it does support the Mental Health Measure in its promotion of effective care planning.
“However, we intend to scrutinise the Strategy to ensure that people with a serious mental illness get a good deal. After all, these are the people who need the most support from services.
“It’s essential to get the Strategy right as it will inform the delivery of mental health services in Wales in the coming decade.”
Consultation events are being held across Wales in June 2012 specifically aimed at practitioners, service users and carers; comments on the Strategy must be submitted by 31 July 2012.
For more information on the consultation and to read the Strategy for yourself go to: http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/healthsocialcare/mhealth/?lang=en