What we're fighting for
Many young people struggle alone with their mental health: falling into the ‘missing middle’ because universal services are not meeting their needs, yet additional support is absent, unless they try to access Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SCAMHS).
In our recent research, young people told us that this is leaving them feeling isolated, stigmatised and reluctant to ask for help.
“I felt like I wasn’t unwell enough to receive the support I needed but was too bad to receive the baseline support that was being offered. It made me feel alone and like a burden. On top of this I feel like this made my anxiety worst as I felt I was making a big deal out of nothing as I didn’t "qualify" for help.”
We also found that school support needs to be improved and that guidance from Welsh Government needs clarification.
That’s why we’re calling on Welsh Government to:
- Give young people the opportunity to shape new mental health services, as described in the new Mental Health Strategy (Open Access care).
- Develop a targeted mental health stigma programme in schools.
- Enhance school-based support to ensure it meets young people’s needs, and forms part of a wider package of care.
- Develop a clear strategic response to rising mental health need among children and young people by prioritising their needs.
“…I started to find content that wasn’t helpful to my mental health and made me worse. I tried to help myself but it made me worse.”
Supported Self-Help for the ‘missing middle’
Mind’s Missing Middle service, delivered through the local Mind network, has supported more than 600 young people aged 11 to 18 with mild to moderate mental health needs and can offer an alternative to school-based counselling.
The programme is a free, six-week guided self-help service, equipping young people with tools to manage their mental health, creating a personalised wellbeing toolkit.
“If it wasn’t for all your help, I’d still be asking myself why I’m here? You’ve made me realise I am important and there’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it.”
Pathways include coping with stressful and anxious feelings, low mood, positive self-talk, anger, coping with loss and feeling lonely.
The evaluation of the Missing Middle project showed that without the service, many young people would have tried to manage their symptoms alone. The service gave young people more choice in how to participate than current school counselling allows. For example, they can do work from home or have a face-to-face session.
The impact on young people:
71% improved levels of wellbeing
100% of young people said that they would recommend the service to family or friends
63% improved levels of emotional and behavioural health
Three local Minds in Wales piloted the service between 2023 to 2025. Cwm Taf Morgannwg Mind, Neath Port Talbot Mind and Swansea Mind. CTM, NPT & Swansea Mind.
Download a full copy of the report
To find out more about the programme email [email protected]