The week aims to encourage people to talk about mental health, and raise awareness of mental illness, a subject which continues to be a taboo in Wales.

Let’s Get Physical!, a groundbreaking 2014 campaign led by mental health service users and carers in Wales, was officially launched at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay today by Health Minister Mark Drakeford AM.

Our Let’s Get Physical! campaign is about to launch! As people with a mental illness and their carers in Wales we are concerned that our physical health is neglected. Our Let’s Get Physical! campaign sets a challenge – both to ourselves and to our service providers – to radically improve our physical health.

Wales Online has reported that according to NHS figures the number of people being admitted to Welsh hospitals for eating disorders increased by 10% in just one year. Health board statistics show there were 274 admissions between 2011- 2013, with an increase from 130 to 144 between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

A report published today looks at progress made so far against the aims of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010. The report was launched at an event in Cardiff by Health Minister Mark Drakeford; the launch was attended by service users who spoke about their experience of mental health services and care and treatment planning. Hafal Members had inspired the original legislation and had proposed the detailed content of the new legal right to a Care and Treatment Plan which was adopted by the Government.

Yesterday (Wednesday 2nd April) a plenary debate about Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) took place at the National Assembly. During the debate an amendment to the proposed motion was unanimously agreed stating that the National Assembly:

Mental health charities Hafal, Bipolar UK and the Mental Health Foundation and equality charity Diverse Cymru have released information about an upcoming campaign which will be led by service users and carers.

A report published this week by Public Health Wales reviewing deaths through suicide in children and young people in Wales has called for more to be done to ensure NICE guidance is implemented on the management of self harm…

A House of Lords inquiry report out today suggests that vulnerable adults are being failed by the Mental Capacity Act even though the laws are designed to protect and empower them. The report finds that social workers, healthcare professionals and others involved in the care of vulnerable adults are not aware of the Mental Capacity Act, and are failing to implement it.

A BBC Wales investigation has found that young people with a mental illness are often left struggling to cope without the appropriate support. One expert said there are only half the required staff in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Dr Elspeth Webb, a reader in child health at Cardiff University, said services across Wales were operating at between 20% and 40% of the recommended staff levels.