Written question WQ93559

We provide dedicated support for mental health services to work collaboratively with partners to enhance data analysis and share mental health research. The main aim is to increase the analytical capacity and capability for mental health evidence, making better use of the wealth of existing data and literature, while also undertaking and managing primary research to address key evidence and evaluation gaps.

The current priorities include identifying effective interventions for suicide and self-harm prevention; evaluating the effectiveness of risk assessments used in mental health services and developing evaluation plans for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy.

We also support a research associate post, working across Welsh Government and the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health at Cardiff University. This helps ensure Welsh Government policy affecting young people’s mental health and wellbeing is informed and evaluated using the best available evidence. The research associate works closely with colleagues in the School Health Research Network, a policy-practice-research partnership between Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, and Cardiff University.

The Welsh Government is part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Administrative Data Research Wales (ADR Wales) partnership. As part of this, we secured £17m for 2022-26. Mental health is one of the ADR Wales priority themes, and is led by Professor Ann John, from Swansea University.

Through Health and Care Research Wales we continue to fund the National Centre for Mental Health, and offer a range of open and competitive research funding opportunities for mental health researchers through both Wales-specific and UK partner schemes.

We have a number of early years programmes which support the first 1,000 days – this period significantly influences outcomes for children, parents, and families. Our universal early help programme, Families First supports children and families through the first 1,000 days and beyond. It places an emphasis on prevention and early intervention, providing support for the whole family. The programme works with the family to stop problems from escalating towards crisis.

Flying Start continues to make a real difference to the lives of children in some of our most disadvantaged communities. Flying Start children and families can access an enhanced level of health visiting support from a dedicated team of Flying Start health visitors. Flying Start health visitors work in partnership with families, communities and other professionals to promote key public health messages and play a vital role in positively influencing health outcomes for our future generations. Flying Start health visitors can refer to or call upon the support of a multi-disciplinary team of other professionals, both health and non-health to work together to meet the needs of the child and their family.

All Flying Start families are offered a pathway of parenting support from antenatal to aged four years and a range of options considered with parents depending upon their needs and individual circumstances. This can include one to one support, informal groups, or formal evidence-based parenting programmes. Higher need families will be supported to engage in services.

Additionally, the Childcare Offer for Wales provides up to 30 hours of early education and funded childcare for three and four-year-olds.

We have recently consulted on our draft mental health and wellbeing strategy, which includes commitments to further support infant mental health and parent infant relationship work. We are analysing responses to the consultation; we intend to publish a summary report in October and provide further details about the publication date for the final strategy and delivery plan, which will outline our overarching vision and priorities for mental health.