Survey indicates half of Wales’ mental health workforce suffer burnout and distress
According to a new report from Mind Cymru, as many as half of mental health professionals in Wales* have experienced psychological distress (49%), burnout or exhaustion (59%), or are considering leaving their role altogether (53%).
The charity warns that Welsh Government plans to expand same-day mental health services must also deliver better support for the workforce providing them, in order for them to succeed.
Mind’s Professionals Survey for 2026 gathered responses from 1,313 respondents across England and Wales working in NHS, private, third and voluntary sector roles, 118 of whom were based in Wales.
Key challenges cited include inadequate staffing levels, high caseloads, the volume of administrative tasks, and people presenting with more complex and acute mental health problems at the point of access.
Forming part of its own report into the delivery of open access mental health services in Wales, called Opening Doors, Mind Cymru is calling for transitional investment to be made in existing services across the next three years.
The report also calls for recognition of the role voluntary sector services play in delivering on ambitions for open access mental health services in Wales, alongside tackling and eliminating inequalities.
George Watkins, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer at Mind Cymru, said:
“If we’re serious about getting people in Wales same-day mental health support, then the workforce delivering it must be supported and equipped to do so.
“Although just a snapshot, these findings support what we’ve been hearing in our research for years - that despite the best efforts of many dedicated healthcare professionals, the workload they’re facing is often unmanageable and unsustainable.
“Mind Cymru is wholly supportive of the Welsh Government’s ambition to offer same-day support to people for their mental health in Wales, but there’s much still to be done on the ground before the benefits can be felt at the point of delivery.”
Read Mind Cymru’s full report Opening doors: Ending the wait for better mental health support in Wales here.
