1. Welcome

In this report you will hear stories of people whose lives have been changed by Mind, Mind Retail and the local Mind network in Wales.

By working together, we create real impact. This is the story of exactly what that meant

in 2023/24.

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Content warning: This video mentions suicide

1.1 A welcome from Chris

Content warning - mention of suicide.

As someone who has benefitted from the support of a local Mind, I am so pleased to welcome you to the Mind Federation in Wales Annual Impact Report for 2023/24.

In it, you will hear about the difference made by Mind Cymru, Mind Retail and the local Minds in Wales. You’ll hear about the numbers of people supported, and the stories of the people, like me, behind those numbers.

When I lost my daughter, my mental health spiralled completely. There was no way of hiding it, no more putting a brave face on and making people think I’m totally fine.

I found myself homeless, crying out for help. I got to the point I was thinking about ending my life at least once a week. I needed help.

I went to Llanelli Mind and they supported me through it all. At first, I was nervous and apprehensive. But the way I was greeted made all the difference.

I’ve been coming here for the last year and a half. It’s so good. My local Mind helped in so many ways. They helped me with my confidence and the befriending scheme helped me to relax a bit more when I’m out and about. I was encouraged to get out of my comfort zone, try stuff I never thought I’d like. Now, every single week, I go to the walking group, hearing voices group and I do art here.

The environment just keeps me coming back. I don't know why, but it just works. I struggle less with depression and I’m more level-headed. I’ve met some great people and we all help each other. It’s changed how I feel about life.

1.2 Welcome from our chairs

We are more aware than ever of the mental health challenges facing our communities and the pressures felt by our health system in Wales. Waiting lists remain a real problem, with an average of more than 6,000 people waiting each month for specialist psychological therapy. It’s estimated that challenges in the public sector have resulted in the third sector propping up £2.4 billion worth of services each year.

As a Federation, we have not been immune. Funding pressures, increased demand for services, ongoing economic instability and more people experiencing mental health challenges, all create very difficult circumstances.

Given this, our achievements in Wales over the last year are even more remarkable.

Our 16 local Minds have supported more than 36,000 people with bespoke mental health services and local community support to people like Chris, who may not be here to tell their stories if it weren’t for their local Mind.

In February our life-changing work was recognised by partners, funders, service users and Members of the Senedd at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff. Our policy and campaigning work has gone from strength to strength, with more than 400 people with lived experience of mental health problems helping us set priorities for Welsh Government’s next mental health strategy. We also reached more than 360,000 people with Welsh language mental health information.

The external challenges are unlikely to ease any time soon. And so, we continue to draw upon our collective skills, experiences and expertise as a Federation in Wales.

We team up with people who use our services, our partners, fundraisers and stakeholders to ensure we can support people living with mental health problems when they need it most.

We hope our report inspires you by showing what is possible.

Emrys Elias, Chair of Pwyllgor and
Tracey Price, Chair of One Mind in Wales and CEO of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind

We want everyone in Wales to have better mental health. That’s why we exist.

Our national information, services and campaigns work hand in hand with 16 local Minds as well as retail shops in Wales.

Together, as a Federation, we help thousands of people get the best possible support for their mental health.

We tackle barriers to support and reduce stigma and isolation. We change policies and systems that will support people’s mental health for generations. We’ve got the skills, experience and expertise to help every one of us who needs it.

1.3 Together, we are the Mind Federation in Wales

Map of local Minds in Wales

Note:

Gwent Mind, made up of Newport Mind, Mind Monmouthshire and Torfaen and Blaenau
Gwent Mind.
Pembrokeshire & Carmarthen Mind, with local offices in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen

36,356

people were supported
by 16 local Minds

£732,759¹

worth of time was donated by 487 volunteers, giving 44,626 hours

91

Trustees gifted their time, skills and expertise

430

Local Minds employed over 430 people across Wales

[1] Values generated using Stats Wales' Average (median) gross hourly earnings for Wales for 2023.

Local Minds
in numbers

1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024

In 2023/24:

1.4 The Mind Federation in Wales. 2023/24 in numbers

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36% Community wellbeing and resilience services

e.g. housing and tenancy support, peer support groups and community groups.

35% Talking therapies and counselling

e.g. supported self-help, counselling and bereavement support.

27% Information, advice and assistance

e.g. welfare and benefits advice, rural information services and money advice projects.

2% Education, training and awareness raising

e.g. public attitudes and discrimination, mental health first aid and suicide first aid.

Local Mind services by type

‘One size fits all’ doesn’t work for mental health. Which is why local Minds shape support around their communities. This is how we supported people in Wales last year:

Side by Side

Side by Side is an online peer support community. It provides a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Members can talk about their mental health and connect with others who understand.

18,000 people in Wales are subscribed to Side by Side.

2,044

enquiries were made to Mind’s helplines and webchat services, from people who stated their location as Wales*.

31%

(625) of queries were referred to their local Mind for more support.

Top 3 reasons for calling

1. General mental health information and advice
2. Information about support and services
3. Depression, anxiety and stress

*Note, only queries where the person has given a location are included and the estimated number is approximately 10,000.

Helplines and online peer support in numbers

Mind's 4 helplines provide a voice at the end of the phone when there's nowhere else to turn. Each line meets a different mental health or wellbeing need – from finding information and services to understanding mental health law. Last year: