Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference 2024
What does the future of mental health care in Wales look like?
The Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum is a collective of individuals across Wales that plays a pivotal role in shaping mental health services. Established as part of the Welsh Government’s Together for Mental Health strategy, the Forum empowers members to influence decision-making at local and national levels while addressing key priorities such as reducing stigma, suicide prevention, and fostering person-centered care. This dedication to co-production is reflected in the Forum’s collaborative efforts with health boards, local authorities, and community members.
On November 15th, the Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum held its inaugural conference, bringing together individuals with living experience of mental health issues, professionals, and carers. The event centered around the theme, Improving Healthcare with Lived Experience. Calling to attention the power of co-production in shaping mental health services. The day was rich with discussion, workshops, and inspiring insights. Exploring practical solutions to current challenges in mental health services, focusing on bridging gaps between healthcare providers and the individuals they serve.
Reflections on Systemic Change
Panel discussions underlined the urgent need for systemic changes in health and social care. Speakers highlighted innovative practices, such as tailoring services to individual needs, fostering peer-led initiatives, and bridging gaps between third-sector organisations and the NHS.
We have put together a few examples of Inititives that are already taking place nationwide. That support innovative ways of working that widen engagement and foster a ownership
School of Research, Development, and Innovation
Enhancing Powys’ health and social care workforce by equipping them with skills to identify and address improvement needs. The program fosters collaboration to innovate service delivery, particularly through initiatives like the Regional Innovation Coordination Hub and Making Every Contact Count (MECC), which promotes using everyday interactions to support positive health behaviors. This approach helps improve the delivery and outcomes of services for Powys citizens.
For more information, visit the School of Research, Development and Innovation page.
Integrated Care Models in Cardiff and Vale
Delivers integrated care through initiatives like the @Home program, improving care accessibility for residents. Further details are available in their strategy report: Cardiff and Vale UHB Transformation Report
Farming Fit
The outreach health screening and promotion service for the farming community in Powys is an initiative designed to improve health access for those in rural and agricultural sectors. The service offers key health screenings, including blood pressure checks, diabetes risk assessments, and cancer screenings, aiming to address the health disparities often faced by people in these areas. It focuses on providing support to the farming community, which can sometimes experience barriers to accessing healthcare due to location and lifestyle.
You can read more about this outreach service in Powys by visiting Powys County Council’s website.
Keynote Speech: Andrew Jenkins
TV personality and mental health advocate Andrew Jenkins, best known from The Traitors, delivered a powerful keynote. He shared his journey from a near-death car accident at age 21 to becoming a leading voice for mental health in Wales. Andrew brought to the fore the importance of embracing authenticity, shedding societal masks, and finding strength through vulnerability. His story inspired attendees to reflect on resilience, personal growth, and the necessity of emotional honesty.
Recovery Colleges: Co-Production and a Culture of Recovery
A major take home of the event was discussions centered on the transformative role of recovery colleges.
Recovery colleges are designed to support individuals in their journey of recovery from mental health challenges through learning and education. Creating courses that are co-produced by individuals with living experience and professionals with expertise in relevant fields, ensuring a balanced and inclusive perspective.
The recovery college model originated in the United States, with the first recovery college established in Arizona in 2000.
This innovative approach was introduced to the UK in 2010, and there are now over 30 recovery colleges operating across England.
Wales has made significant strides in implementing the recovery college model, with the Cardiff and Vale Recovery & Wellbeing College leading the way as an example. Following its success, additional pilot initiatives have been introduced to further develop and expand access to the service across Wales, implementant by the following health boards.
Discussions throughout the event centered on the transformative role that the recovery colleges play in fostering co-production and educating service users, carers, and staff. These services are more than just places of learning; they are dynamic environments where lived and professional experiences intertwine to create a culture of recovery that extends across communities.
One participant captured the essence of Recovery Colleges, stating:
“The wonderful thing about Recovery Colleges is that they are an embodiment of co-production. Staff members collaborate with individuals who have lived experience to design and deliver courses, which offers invaluable insights into what co-production looks like in practice. These courses cater to a mixed audience—service users, carers, family members, staff, and even members of the public who are curious to learn.”
The impact of Recovery Colleges is far-reaching. Staff attending these courses not only enhance their understanding of recovery and co-production but also carry these principles back to their teams. This ripple effect improves the care provided to service users and promotes a deeper appreciation for recovery-oriented practices among colleagues. As one attendee noted,
“Having a Recovery College within an organisation makes a real difference to staff’s understanding of what co-production truly means.”
Another key point of discussion was the integration of recovery colleges within broader systems. One speaker highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors, sharing:
“A significant portion of my work focuses on social services and social care. Recovery Colleges offer an opportunity to empower local authorities to become active partners in co-production. In our task-and-finish group, we are fortunate to have representation from social services, which helps ensure the Recovery College model is inclusive and reflective of all stakeholders.”
As the conversation evolved, participants expressed the importance of scaling the Recovery College model across Wales. This vision relies on the active participation of the voluntary sector, social care, health services, and the individuals and families they serve. One attendee remarked,
“This cross-Wales initiative is about uniting social care, health, the voluntary sector, and people using services. Together, we aim to create a truly collaborative and impactful model for recovery.”
“It was great to be amongst so many people who are all working towards the same goal – To lower the stigma associated to mental health diagnosis and to bolster understanding of why co-production is fundamental in planning mental health service that works! You could tell there was a lot of love in the room, a great day.”
Alice Dolan, Participation Officer (Mental Health), PAVO
“The mental health forum conference was an interesting event, I was nervous about how the very first would be, worried about it, was nervous about the potential problems that could arise but it was really full of interesting people and knowledge, hearing from different organisations and people, and of course we had a celebrity speaker, we had interesting topics being brought up, hearing all sides, it was emotional to watch forum members own stories of mental health issues/carers stories also.”
Sally Houghton- Wilson, Carer Representitive: Engage to Change
“”The conference provided an excellent opportunity to hear from those with living experience, NHS Professionals, Mental Health workers and advocates. Everybody in the room had the shared vision of improving services for all. It was reassuring to hear Sarah Murphy voicing Welsh Government commitment to inclusion. Ceri Phillips has brought his own Professional experiences and contacts with the group to advocate support for the sector. Penny Gripper gave her inspirational personal story leading to her recent appointment as Lead for setting up a Recovery College for PTHB.”
John Williams, Senior Officer Information, Engagement and Participation, PAVO
“Attending the Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum’s first conference in Cardiff was a joy. The room was full, with more joining online, creating an atmosphere of shared purpose and connection. The day offered not only opportunities to network and learn but also moments of warmth, creativity, and inspiration.
Heart-warming stories from forum members illustrated the power of lived experience, while Andrew Jenkins’ moving account of his personal journey was a highlight, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. The discussions around diversity, co-production, and lived experience brought hope for real change in mental health services.
Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum’s journey has been remarkable. From being guided by others to confidently setting its own agenda, members have grown and blossomed, supported by Practice Solutions. This event was a testament to their determination to make a difference.
WMHWF is an organisation to watch, welcoming new members with lived or living experience and their carers, all united by a shared commitment to improving mental health services in Wales.”
Penny Gripper – (Powys Recovery College Peer Lead)
“Hosting the the Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference 2024 was an inspiring and heartwarming experience that left us feeling deeply hopeful about the future of mental health care. The focus on “Improving Healthcare with Lived Experience” resonated profoundly, as it brought together a diverse community of individuals—those with lived experience, carers, professionals, and families. Hearing Andrew Jenkins share his personal story of resilience and recovery was both moving and empowering, reminding us of the incredible strength we each possess. The open dialogue, collaboration with Welsh Government representatives, and the active involvement of health boards demonstrated a genuine dedication to creating practical, inclusive solutions. It was a powerful reminder of how transformative co-production can be when people come together with compassion and purpose.”
Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum Representatives