Welcome

We are excited to share the impact of local Minds in Wales

Kayleigh - A lived experience voice

Swansea Mind were my last hope

Kayleigh, Mind Cymru Media Volunteer

Content warning - mention of suicide and self-harm

I've had so many bad experiences when trying to get help for my mental health. This system, it can be so hard, like nobody cares.

Swansea Mind was my last hope. To be honest, without Mind, I think I would be dead. I was at breaking point.

One night, I walked out of the house on my own. I was manic and psychotic and when I'm like that, I see things and hear things. It’s horrible and makes me scared and frightened. I went to the park and I self-harmed. I started going in and out of a psychotic kind of blackout phase. I was there, but not there.

I rang the police - it was my cry for help. They came and took me to the crisis team.

I remember begging them to section me, I said 'I'm going to hurt myself or someone else’. I said please, I'm so frightened. And they asked me to leave. I ended up on the Kingsway, a stranger asking me if I was OK.

After that I didn't know what to do. I asked my partner if I should go to Mind? And they were like, yeah, give it a go. I'm so glad I did. Without my local Mind, I wouldn't be here.

A Swansea mind volunteer put me in touch with the counsellor I'm having sessions with now. I can understand my emotions better and how to control them in a healthy way. It's been a really big help.

This is why I want to shout for people, for their mental health rights. I've recommended Mind for a lot of things. Everything Mind shares, I share or get involved with. I just want to help you guys change the way.

Welcome to our report

It brings us great pleasure to introduce you to our Mind federation in Wales annual impact report.

We share with pride the important, and for some life changing, work that has taken place across the length and breadth of Wales in the past year, supporting some 37,000 people on their journey towards better mental health.

It goes without saying it has been another turbulent year for our communities, where many people are feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. A number of local Mind organisations have offered support including Neath Port Talbot Mind who have provided free support to over 60 people locally through their Money and Me programme, helping people better understand their relationship with money and its impact on mental health.

Our policy and campaigns work at Mind Cymru has continued to hold Welsh Government to account, launching the publication of our ‘Mental Health (Wales) Measure – Ten Years on’ report.

We launched our first ever Network Strategy for Wales, a truly collaborative effort across the Mind federation that sets out a three-year strategic plan to support more people and secure a sustainable and impactful future for the local Mind network in Wales.

As we look ahead to 2023/24, this is an exciting and important time for our Federation in Wales, as we strive to be there for anyone living with a mental health problem.

This is at a time where people aren’t receiving the support they need, or receiving it in a timely manner.

None of this would be possible without the support, passion and dedication of our supporters, funders, volunteers, and talented workforce within Wales.

We will continue to amplify the voices of people with mental health needs within national settings and ensure support is offered regionally and locally, in the pursuit of ensuring people living with a mental health problem get support and respect.

Emrys Elias
Chair Pwyllgor
Chair of Chairs in Wales

Tracey Price
Chair One Mind in Wales
CEO Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind