Extra funding to support people with mental health problems announced

Extra funding to support people with mental health problems through the coronavirus pandemic has been announced by Welsh Government.

The £3m fund was announced on Wednesday, November 4 by the minister for mental health and wellbeing, Eluned Morgan.

Welsh Government will work alongside the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions, local authorities, police forces and area planning boards to get the funding out.

Of the funding, £1.4m will go towards third sector schemes aiming to provide low level mental health and wellbeing support.

Half a million pounds will be spent on providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to substance misuse services.

A further £75,000 will fund the ‘I Can Work’ programme, which seeks to help people with mild to moderate mental health problems into paid work.

Meanwhile, £50,000 will be used to support police forces across Wales to pilot nasal naloxone kits – which can be used to save the life of someone who has overdosed on drugs.

Mrs Morgan said: “We know that early intervention is vital for better outcomes. We’ve seen the devastating effect this pandemic has had on the most vulnerable members of our society and we must provide an extra helping hand when they need it.

“This funding is a key part of our recovery plan, where we have committed to protecting and improving individuals’ wellbeing, supporting the homeless, and reducing unemployment to give people the best chance in life.”

Mrs Morgan added: “These are tough times for us all to live through, but if we look out for each other and support the vulnerable, we will get through it.

“Anyone concerned about their mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the C.A.L.L. Helpline on 0800 137 737 or can text ‘help’ to 81066.”

Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: “Due to the current restrictions, the way people access mental health support may look a bit different, the support is still there. Services may be accessed online or through a telephone service, while face to face appointments can still be made for those in the most need.

“However, we also appreciate that some may have found it more difficult to get the support they require for their individual needs. To those people, we are sorry this is the case, but we encourage you to seek help and continue to try and access support.”