The Mental Health (Wales) Measure

The Mental Health (Wales) Measure is a law introduced by the National Assembly for Wales which will help people with mental health problems in four different ways.

The Measure aims to ensure that appropriate care is in place across Wales, which focuses on people’s individual mental health needs. It places responsibilities on Health Boards and Local Authorities in Wales, and collects data to monitor and evaluate how well each area is doing.

The four areas are:

Part 1: Local Primary Mental Health Support Services

The Measure will:

• Ensure more services are available for GPs to refer service users to if they present with mental health problems (including anxiety and depression)

Part Two: Care Coordination and Care and Treatment Planning

The Measure will:

• Ensure that if a person requires more specialised care and support for their mental health condition, their care and treatment is overseen by a professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse or social worker (called Care Coordinators)
• Set out the goals a person is working towards and the services that will be provided to help them reach their goals

Part Three: Assessment of people who have used specialist mental health services before

If a person has received specialised treatment in the past, the Measure will:

• Enable a person to go back to the mental health service that was previously looking after them, to advice whether they need any further help or treatment. There is no need to go to a GP first, unless they want to talk this through.

Part Four: Independent Mental Health Advocacy

If a person is in hospital and they have mental health problems, the Measure will:

• Enable them to ask for help from an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMAH). An IMAH is an expert in mental health who will make a service users’ views known.