Understanding the mental health landscape in Wales

Children and young people’s mental health in Wales

Whilst there is limited data on the prevalence of mental health problems in children and young people in Wales, UK wide, it’s estimated that three children and young people in every classroom (or 1 in 8 overall) has a diagnosable mental health condition.

Mental health is the issue most commonly raised with the Children’s Commissioner for Wales by children, young people, and their parents and carers. Mental health was also highlighted as a key priority for the Children Young People and Education Committee when they consulted on their work programme shortly after the last election in Wales in May 2016.

What affects the mental health of children and young people in Wales?

There are many different causes of poor mental health in children and young people. These reasons can be complex – there may not be one specific cause of poor mental health, but a combination of contributory factors. You can find out more about risks to children’s mental health in the risks and protective factors section of this website.

Some causes, specific to Wales, may be:

• Economic inequality: According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Wales has the highest levels of poverty out of the four UK countries. They estimate that around 30% of children in Wales live in relative poverty. Researchhas shown that children living in low income households are more likely to experience mental health issues.
• Rural life: Around 1 in 3people in Wales live in an area classed as rural (compared to 1 in 5 in England). There are significant difficulties with accessing mental health services in rural Wales, as well as concerns around deprivation and isolation potentially making mental health problems worse.
• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Researchhas found that for every 100 adults in Wales, 47 suffered at least one ACE during their childhood and 14 suffered four or more. Experiencing ACEs can have a long-term negative impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Mental health and school

One of the recommendations made by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales was for the government to encourage a whole-school approach to mental health.

As a result, the government recently doubled the amount of funding available to local authorities to help them implement a whole-school approach to mental health in schools. The government is also currently at the consultation stage of creating statutory guidance for schools on a whole-school approach to mental health.

Health and wellbeing is a core Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE) within the new Welsh curriculum, which schools will be required to implement from September 2022. Find out more about mental health on the Welsh curriculum.