Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, with a healthy outlook capable of reducing both the intensity and duration of illnesses, and poor mental health having the opposite effect.

A decline in mental health can contribute to a spectrum of mental health conditions, with varying degrees of severity. Further information on different mental health conditions can be found here: Mental health conditions - NHS

What is the current legislation? 

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–2035 strategy, developed by Welsh Government with input from people with lived experience and stakeholders, focuses on preventing mental health issues and ensuring seamless, person-centred, needs-led, and recovery-focused support. A key ambition is to achieve same-day mental health support based on a stepped approach. The strategy is published with a three year action plan.

(read more on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy here: Mental health and wellbeing strategy 2025 to 2035 | GOV.WALES)

Key Statistics in Wales 

According to the Welsh Governments Mental Well Wales:

  • 1 in 4 adults experience mental health problems at some point during their life
  • Half of all mental health problems starts by the age of 14
  • There were 330 registered deaths from suicide in Wales in 2019 (248 men, 82 women)
  • 20% of Welsh adults in the most deprived areas reported being treated for a mental health condition, compared to 8% in the least deprived
  • Mental health problems represent the largest single cause of disability in the UK
  • NHS Wales spent £810 million on mental health problems in 2019 – 2020, representing 11.1% of total NHS spend
  • The total cost of mental health problems in Wales has been estimated at £7.2 billion a year

Read more on a Mental Well Wales on the link here: A mentally well Wales

Projected number of people with a mental health disorder

Data shows that there is projected to be 6,192 women, and 3,616 men,with common mental disorders in Ceredigion. By 2043, projections show that there will be a small decrease, with 5,868 women, and 3,243 men, living with common mental disorders., Data shows that there is projected to be 10,425 women, and 6,276 men with common mental disorders in Pembrokeshire. 2043 projections show a slight increase, with 10,492 women, and 6,384 men with common mental disorders. Projections indicate there are currently 15,845 women, and 9,498 men, with common mental disorders In Carmarthenshire. Current projections show a slight increase by 2043, with an expected 16,378 women, and 9,544 men with common mental disorders.

Data shows that there are 375 women and 1,058 men with an antisocial personality disorder in Ceredigion. Projections show a reduction in these numbers by 2043, with 342 women and 933 men with an antisocial personality disorder. In Pembrokeshire, data shows that 571 women and 1,676 men, with an antisocial personality disorder, with projections showing that by 2043, that this will decrease to 533 women and 1,606 men. In Carmarthenshire, there are 907 women and 2,551 men with an antisocial personality disorder, projections show that in 2043 this will decrease to 887 women and 2,487 men. Data shows that there are 496 women and 558 men 16 and over with bipolar disorder in Ceredigion. By 2043 this will decrease to 451 women, and 490 men. In Pembrokeshire, there are 779 women, and 898 men with bipolar disorder. By 2043, data shows that these numbers could fall slightly, to 731 women, and 871 men. In Carmarthenshire, there are 1,224 women, and 1,372 men with by bipolar disorder. Projections show similar numbers by 2043, with 1,202 women, and 1,347 men with bipolar disorder. Across the West Wales region, men are generally more affected by bipolar disorder than women, except in the 16-24 and 65-74 age categories.

Data shows that in Ceredigion, there are currently 643 women, and 448 men, with borderline personality disorder. Projections to 2043 show that a slight reduction is expected, to 602 women, and 414 men. In Pembrokeshire, data shows that there are currently 898 women, and 602 men with borderline personality disorder. 2043 projections show a slight decrease in these figures, to 839 women, and 600 men. In Carmarthenshire, there are currently 1,422 women, and 963 men, with borderline personality disorder. Current projections show a small change, to 1,402 women, and 944 men by 2043. Across the West Wales region, the data shows that the condition is most common in people aged 16-34.

Data shows that in Ceredigion, there are currently 169 women, and 113 men with psychotic disorders. By 2043, current projections show a small decrease in these numbers, to154 women, and 94 men. In Pembrokeshire, there are 297 women, and 205 men, with psychotic disorders. Projections show very little change by 2043, with 291 women, and 200 men, with psychotic disorders. In Carmarthenshire, there are currently 458 women, and 304 men, with psychotic disorders. Projections show very little change, with an expected 461 women, and 306 men, with psychotic disorders in 2043. 

There are 3,785 people on the mental health Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) register in the West Wales region.

 

Benefits and Mental Health 

In Ceredigion, nearly half of all individuals receiving the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are doing so due to mental or behavioural health conditions. As of last summer, there were 992 such claimants out of a total of 2,178 in the area. This trend is consistent across Great Britain, where mental and behavioural conditions are the most common reason for claiming the benefit, affecting almost half of the 1.6 million people on ESA.

Current Provision 

Current support services Care, services and support needs for people with mental health issues in West Wales are coordinated by Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS) and Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs).

Local Primary Mental Health Support Services and Community Mental Health Teams

  • The introduction of Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS) aimed to increase the availability and uptake of mental health services at the primary care level, as well as improving integration of services, and working with GPs and practice staff to provide support and training. Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) in West Wales are a partnership between Hywel Dda University Health Board and Social Services and provide the point of referral for those requiring access to secondary mental health services. CMHTs have a duty to assess anyone experiencing mental health issues which are affecting their ability to lead their life.

Third Sector

  • The health board and local authorities continue to commission a range of third sector organisations to support people with mental health issues such as advocacy services, information and advice, activities, healthy lifestyles and a range of supported accommodation and tenancy related support services.
  • Mind is a mental health charity that operates throughout West Wales. They provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind services operating in West Wales are Pembrokeshire Mind, Carmarthenshire Mind and Mind Aberystwyth.
  • Other third sector organisations operating in West Wales include Hafal, which works with individuals recovering from mental health problems, with a special emphasis on those with serious mental illness, and FRAME, which provides around 80 people a week the opportunity practice work and train new skills. 134 West Wales Action for Mental Health (WWAMH) is a mental health development organisation in West Wales. It provides a range of services to voluntary groups, carers and individuals who require support around mental health in the West Wales region and seeks to improve the services and opportunities available to people with mental health problems, their families and carers.

Twilight Sanctuaries 

Twilight sanctuaries are designed to offer support to people at risk of deteriorating mental health outside of normal office hours. Currently in West Wales, there are twilight sanctuary services in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

See more on what Adferiad offer on the link here: Services Archive - Adferiad


A woman sits looking pensively out of a window.


Care and support provision

Since 2010 and the introduction of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure, the majority of mental health cases are treated at the primary care level. This is to promote early intervention, to reduce the likelihood of their condition deteriorating and needing further secondary mental health services.

Current support services

Current support services Care, services and support needs for people with mental health issues in West Wales are coordinated by Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS) and Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs).

Local Primary Mental Health Support Services and Community Mental Health Teams

The introduction of Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS) aimed to increase the availability and uptake of mental health services at the primary care level, as well as improving integration of services, and working with GPs and practice staff to provide support and training. Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) in West Wales are a partnership between Hywel Dda University Health Board and Social Services and provide the point of referral for those requiring access to secondary mental health services. CMHTs have a duty to assess anyone experiencing mental health issues which are affecting their ability to lead their life.

Third Sector

The health board and local authorities continue to commission a range of third sector organisations to support people with mental health issues such as advocacy services, information and advice, activities, healthy lifestyles and a range of supported accommodation and tenancy related support services.

Mind is a mental health charity that operates throughout West Wales. They provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind services operating in West Wales are Pembrokeshire Mind, Carmarthenshire Mind and Mind Aberystwyth.

Other third sector organisations operating in West Wales include Hafal, which works with individuals recovering from mental health problems, with a special emphasis on those with serious mental illness, and FRAME, which provides around 80 people a week the opportunity practice work and train new skills. 134 West Wales Action for Mental Health (WWAMH) is a mental health development organisation in West Wales. It provides a range of services to voluntary groups, carers and individuals who require support around mental health in the West Wales region and seeks to improve the services and opportunities available to people with mental health problems, their families and carers.

Twilight Sanctuaries

Twilight sanctuaries are part of the service provided by Mind. They are designed to offer support to people at risk of deteriorating mental health outside of normal office hours. Currently in West Wales, there are twilight sanctuary services in Llanelli and Haverfordwest, with plans for 3rd Twilight sanctuary to be implemented in Ceredigion soon. This will mean a twilight sanctuary in each of the three local authority areas by December.

The Welsh Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–2035 is a 10-year plan that defines the main goals for improving mental health in Wales. The detailed, three-year delivery plans that support this strategy are developed in collaboration with both stakeholders and people with lived experience, ensuring the actions are co-produced and delivered based on their priorities.

Some of the key outcomes are:

  • Improved mental health and wellbeing.
  • Improved knowledge, opportunities and confidence in supporting your own or others mental health.
  • More effective cross-sector working to address the ‘building blocks’ that impact on mental health.
  • Better use of data and research to deliver evidence-based intervention.
  • Reducing inequalities seen in terms of access and experience of mental health provision.
  • Improved quality of life for those that have a mental health condition.
  • A sustainable and diverse workforce

The delivery plan for 2025 – 2028 can be found here: Mental health and wellbeing strategy 2025 to 2035 | GOV.WALES

The pandemic has had a significant negative impact on mental health across the population, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and loneliness, particularly among young people.

Severe mental health issues in Wales have more than doubled since the pandemic, rising sharply from 11.7% to 28.1%, according to a Cardiff University study. Read more on the outcomes of this study here: Transformation of Welsh Mental Health Services, through digital and data (DHCW) - NHS Wales Performance and Improvement

A study from Aberystwyth University on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on Ceredigion households found that 55% of respondents felt isolated from friends, family, and society during the pandemic. The report also notes that the pandemic had a negative effect on the mental, physical, and general health of residents.

Read more on the study here: The Socio-Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ceredigion County Households - Aberystwyth University

The pandemic accelerated the use of digital and online mental health services. While some people found these convenient, others, particularly older individuals and those in very rural areas, found them challenging to access.

Read more about the key challenges and opportunities for improving mental health and wellbeing in Wales here: A mentally well Wales