Health Minister, , has today (8 September) announced additional mental
health support that anyone in Wales can access when they need to.
The package is supported by £1.3m Welsh Government funding and
includes a new online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy course and
other online and phone support services.
Mr Gething said: “Surveys by the Office of National Statistics
and Public Health Wales have shown that levels of anxiety rose
at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and have remained
higher than usual during lockdown.
NHS Wales and partners already provide some phone and
online-based mental health support but today’s announcement
will extend what is already available and provide a new online
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course, that anyone aged 16 or
over can access.
SilverCloud offers support for a range of issues including
anxiety and depression. The national pilot of the programme is
being evaluated to test usability and effectiveness, building
on previous work led by Powys Local Health Board which so far
has supported over 3,000 people.
The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the mental
health of the public, and we have ensured this package of
additional measures are in place ahead of any potential second
wave this winter and as the impact of the pandemic is felt more
widely. These services are aimed at helping low level mental
health issues; they are not a replacement for more specialist
services but we hope by providing instant access to support
they will help reduce pressure on primary care and other more
specialist services.”
SilverCloud is an online course which offers
support for anxiety, depression, and much more, all based on
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Anyone aged 16 or over can
sign up at nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/.
Other support measures already available and further supported
by the £1.3m funding package are:
CALL Mental Health Listening Line
Provides a confidential mental health listening and emotional
support line which is open 24/7. CALL can also signpost to
support in local communities and a range of online information.
Call 0800132737, text “help” to 81066 or visit callhelpline.org.uk/.
Beat eating disorders helpline
Beat provides helplines and information for adults and young
people, offering a supportive environment to talk about eating
disorders and how to get help. Call 0808 801 0677 or visit
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services.
Mind Active Monitoring
Provides six weeks guided self-help for, anxiety, depression,
self-esteem, and more. To get started, talk to your GP, any
other health professional, or sign up directly at: https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/active-monitoring-sign-up/active-monitoring-form/
Activate Your Life
The “ACTivate Your Life” online video course shares practical
ways to cope with thoughts and feelings causing distress and
help live life with more confidence. To start go to phw.nhs.wales/activateyourlife.
Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit
The Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit links young people,
aged 11 to 25, to websites, apps, helplines, and more to build
resilience. You can access the toolkit at bit.ly/ypmhten.
