We work to develop an evidence-base to influence current mental health policies in order to create a society in which everyone can enjoy good mental health.
We advocate for a preventative approach to mental health problems, so our policy development takes a cross-government approach, targeting the root causes of mental ill-health.
Our Manifesto for the Senedd Elections 2021 called for a cross-government prevention strategy with a plan to tackle inequalities.
Featured reports
Making Prevention Happen: How to improve mental health and well-being for everyone in Wales
In 2021, we called for five key commitments from the next Welsh government in order to influence important change in the way mental health is handled, viewed and treated.
Mental Health and Nature Policy Briefing
This policy briefing builds on the evidence set out in our research report to propose some priority policy areas for Wales.
Uncertain times: Anxiety in the UK and how to tackle it
For Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, we published this report to look at the prevalence and rates of anxiety amongst different groups of people, consider the main ways of coping with anxiety and provide recommendations to governments across the UK for preventing anxiety.
Mental health and the cost-of-living crisis report: another pandemic in the making?
Our report gives an overview of the current and likely effects the cost-of-living crisis has on people’s mental health. We cannot ignore the potentially devastating impact the cost-of-living crisis has on mental health.
The economic case for investing in the prevention of mental health conditions in the UK
Our new report with the London School of Economics and Political Science provides evidence from the UK and around the world that proves prevention interventions work.
Zero-hours contracts and mental health
We know that poorly paid and insecure work is linked to poor mental well-being, but there is limited research on the specific mental health effects of a zero-hours contract. Learn more in our report and policy briefing on the impacts zero-hours contracts have on mental health.
Surviving or Thriving? The state of the UK's mental health
This 2017 report aimed to understand the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems, levels of positive and negative mental health in the population, and the actions people take to deal with the stressors in their lives.
Better mental health for all: A public health approach to mental health improvement
In this report, we examine what can be done individually and collectively to enhance the mental health of individuals, families and communities by using a public health approach and look to support the development of knowledge and skills in public mental health.
Poverty and mental health
This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between poverty and mental health and offers recommendations to improve the situation across the life course.