Poor mental health costs Wales £4.8 billion
The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) has unveiled its Manifesto for Mental Health, urging the Welsh Government to address the postcode lottery for mental health services that cost the nation £4.8 billion annually.
The manifesto highlights the inconsistent availability of evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), across different health boards, leading to unnecessarily long waiting times. It also stresses the need for a unified national strategy to ensure timely and equal access to mental health care.
Evidence-based therapies such as CBT are not only clinically effective but economically prudent. Research from the London School of Economics showed that for every £1 invested in NHS Talking Therapies, there is an estimated £5.50 returned to the wider economy.
- Key recommendations in the manifesto include:
- Establishing a standardised framework for delivering psychological therapies
- Recruiting accredited CBT therapists to reduce assessment and treatment delays
- Routine outcome monitoring
- Conducting a comprehensive workforce review to create clear training and supervision pathways
- Expanding BABCP-accredited training programs, including Welsh-language options.
Launching the manifesto, BABCP’s Senior Clinical Advisor, Helen Macdonald, said: “Access to high-quality, evidence-based psychological therapy in Wales should not depend on geography. At present, pathways vary too widely between health boards, leaving many people waiting many months – sometimes more than a year – for the help they may desperately need. The Government could build on national initiatives such as Traumatic Stress Wales to increase evidence-based psychological therapy provision across the country.
“Without a clear national workforce strategy, consistent standards, and sustained investment, inequalities will persist.
“This manifesto sets out a practical roadmap for change. With the right planning and political will, Wales can build a mental health system that is equitable, timely, cost effective and fit for the future.”
Data from Mind Cymru revealed that around 2,000 adults with severe mental health problems were waiting more than six months for specialist psychological therapies, with hundreds waiting more than a year. Children seeking diagnosis often face longer delays. Expanding the accredited CBT workforce by removing unnecessary barriers to accreditation and strengthening training pathways is crucial to reducing waiting times and improving standards across Wales.
The organisation is advocating for people with lived experience to be involved in shaping mental health provision in line with commitments in the Welsh Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
