At MHM Wales, we believe in the power of community and collaboration to drive meaningful change in mental health services.
This Suicide Prevention Day, on the 10th of September 2024 we took a moment to listen to your voices and launched a poll to better understand the key priorities for suicide prevention over the coming years. Your feedback has been invaluable, and we're excited to share the results and how they will shape the work we do moving forward.
Poll Results: What You Told Us
The poll, conducted on September 10th, 2024, gathered insights from supporters on four main areas of suicide prevention:
Increasing Access to Mental Health Services
This emerged as the top priority, with 36% of you highlighting the need to make mental health services more accessible to everyone. It’s clear that expanding service availability and improving access pathways is a critical focus area.
Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health
27% of respondents emphasised the importance of continuing the fight to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. By encouraging more open, supportive conversations, we can change the narrative and ensure that people feel empowered to seek help.
Encouraging Open Conversations
Another 27% of respondents highlighted the need for creating spaces where people feel safe to talk about their mental health. Encouraging open dialogue is essential to preventing suicide and ensuring people have the support they need before reaching a crisis point.
Providing Education and Training
9% of you focused on the importance of education and training in mental health. Though this received the least support in comparison, it remains a vital aspect of suicide prevention, especially in equipping communities, employers, and individuals with the tools to recognise and respond to signs of mental distress.
These results not only help us shape our future strategies but also confirm the critical importance of making mental health support more accessible while tackling stigma and promoting open discussions about mental well-being.
What’s Next? #WMHD2024 and Future Polls
As we move forward, MHM Wales is committed to focusing on the areas that matter most to you. We'll be using these insights to:
Increase accessibility to our mental health services and ensure they are widely available to those in need.
Continue fighting stigma by creating supportive conversations and increasing awareness around mental health.
Promote more open dialogues, ensuring that individuals feel safe and encouraged to discuss their mental health struggles.
We’re also excited to announce that there will be more opportunities to share your voice during World Mental Health Day 2024 (#WMHD2024).
More polls will be coming, allowing you to continue shaping the future of mental health support across Wales.
A Gift for Our Supporters: Work-Life Balance Tip Sheet
As a thank you for your support and engagement, we’re offering a free Work-Life Balance Tip Sheet, available from October 5th, 2024.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for mental well-being, and this guide is designed to help you find balance in your day-to-day life. Be sure to download it when it becomes available!
Thank You for Making a Difference!
We want to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who participated in the poll.
Your voice helps us shape the services we provide, and together, we’re making a tangible impact on the lives of those struggling with mental health issues. Whether it’s through raising awareness, breaking stigma, or providing access to life-saving services, we are grateful to have such an engaged and supportive community behind us.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with us, and don’t forget to download the Work-Life Balance Tip Sheet on October 5th. Together, we can make a real difference in preventing suicide and supporting mental health across Wales.
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