We need to see cross-government action to tackle mental health inequalities

Responding to the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee report on mental health inequalities in Wales, Nesta Lloyd-Jones, assistant director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said:

“We welcome the Health and Social Care Committee’s report and the calls for the Welsh Government to focus on tackling the wider causes of poor mental health and develop a mental health strategy that recognises inequalities as a barrier to improving the wellbeing of the population.

“NHS leaders recognise the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of the population and how some have been disproportionately affected, including older people, families living in poverty, those who identify as LGBTQ+ and BAME communities. There’s already evidence of an increase in demand for mental health services because of the economic situation, which health and care leaders know will only rise in the coming months.

“Health inequalities are the result of many and varied factors and the NHS alone does not hold all the levers required to create the necessary conditions for good health and wellbeing.

“We’re calling for cross-government action to tackle mental health inequalities, including the development of a delivery plan outlining: the action being taken across all Welsh Government departments; how success will be measured and evaluated; and how individual organisations should collaborate across Wales to reduce health inequalities and tackle the cost-of-living crisis.”