Wales trials same-day mental health support without referrals

Same-day mental health support without a referral is being trialled in Wales, with ministers promising a “no wrong door” approach to getting help. The Welsh Government says demonstrator projects are testing an open-access model before it is extended more widely. The aim is to respond to a person’s main concerns on the day they ask for support and connect them with specialist care when needed.

Trials before a wider rollout

Mental Health Minister Delyth Jewell set out the commitment at a Wales Alliance for Mental Health event at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay marking World Mental Health Day. The approach forms part of the Programme for Government. Ministers say research, data and the experiences of people who use services should shape the changes. The announcement does not give a timetable for a full rollout, identify the demonstrator sites or establish a same-day guarantee for every patient across Wales.

The service already available

The model builds on NHS 111 Wales Press 2, which the government says has received more than 300,000 contacts since its launch. That is a count of contacts, rather than a count of different people. The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee confirms that the existing Press 2 service connects callers to a local mental health worker. It is available to all ages across Wales, around the clock, and calls are free from landlines and mobiles. The new open-access trials and that existing telephone service are separate parts of the announcement.