Mind Cymru responds to Welsh Government’s Draft Budget 2025-26

The Welsh Government has published its spending plans for the next financial year, allocating approximately £26bn of funding across all areas of devolved responsibility.

This includes putting an extra £435m in revenue spending towards health and social care, which the Welsh Government says will go towards improving NHS waiting times, as well as mental health and women’s health services. £820m overall has been ringfenced for mental health services and support.

The narrative for the draft budget also recognises that despite spending more on public services in general than England ‘many services are fragile and unable to withstand any further shocks’ and acknowledges that ‘too many services are too close to the brink’.

Mind Cymru says it is crucial that every pound brought forward in the next budget is spent in a way that is going to achieve maximum impact for people from all backgrounds and communities across Wales with this in mind.

Responding to its publication, Simon Jones, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Mind Cymru, said:

“Increased health and social care spending and a commitment to over £820m for mental health is a step towards relieving the pressure on mental health services. The question is, will it be enough to meet the rising demand and complexity of need we are seeing in our local Mind services?

It’s still unclear whether this funding allocation can truly meet the needs of people who are currently waiting too long for mental health support, many of whom are becoming more ill as a result.

For Wales to create a mental health system that is capable of meeting current levels of demand, in-patient and early support services need more resource, and we must also invest in collecting, publishing and responding to data around people’s experiences so we are better informed on what’s working, and where the challenges are.

We need to see people’s current needs being met whilst also investing in more preventive measures to get them the help they need before more intensive support is required, and it is these kinds of specifics that we will be looking for further clarification on during the scrutiny process.

Put simply, we need more detail about where this budget will be spent and how the impact of that will be measured if we are to truly deliver transformational change for those working within the mental health system, and everyone in need of support.

With a new Mental Health Strategy for Wales within touching distance, there is every chance for us to make sure that each pound spent goes directly where it is needed within the next financial year.

And if the Welsh Government really can deliver on the promise of its draft strategy to prioritise improving the mental health of the nation in this way, there is a very real opportunity the impact will be felt across the board, from education and training to employment and the wider economy as a result.”