Protests at the Senedd as campaigners accuse Welsh Government of failing autistic and learning-disabled people

A MAJOR new mental health strategy promising same-day support in Wales has been overshadowed by rising anger from families who say vulnerable people are still being detained in hospitals simply because of their disabilities or autism.

The Welsh Government says its ten-year plan will transform mental health support by focusing on early help, social prescribing, and same-day access via GPs and community services. The NHS’s urgent 111 helpline—where callers can “press 2” for mental health support—is now receiving nearly 6,000 calls a month.

But critics say that behind the numbers lies a more troubling story—one of systemic failure for people with learning disabilities and autism.

On Wednesday, April 17, protesters from the Stolen Lives campaign gathered outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay to accuse ministers of inaction. The campaign was founded by Dr. Dawn Cavanagh, from Hook, Pembrokeshire, whose own son is detained in a secure mental health hospital.

“We are talking about people being imprisoned without committing any crime,” said Dr. Cavanagh. “Their only crime is being disabled. It has traumatised us as a family.”

The protest brought together families, carers, disability rights groups and allies. Holding placards and banners, they demanded urgent reform and meaningful investment in community care to prevent people being “shut away” in hospitals for years at a time.

Many of those detained are sent far from their families, often to private facilities in England, due to a lack of appropriate housing and support in Wales.

“We’ve had endless promises, meetings, reports—but nothing changes,” said one protester. “We are tired of being told our case is unique. We’re not. This is a national scandal.”

Sophie Hinksman, 39, from Pembrokeshire, was sectioned in 2016 and says she still lives with the trauma.

“If I’d got the right support at home, everything would have been okay,” she said. “Instead I was taken away and left to deteriorate. I’m still trying to come back from that.”

The UK Government’s new Mental Health Bill—adopted in part by the Welsh Government—claims it will limit the ability to detain autistic and learning-disabled people under the Mental Health Act unless they have a co-occurring mental illness. But campaigners say this won’t stop detentions unless proper alternatives are funded.

“If community care isn’t there, they’ll still be detained—just under different legislation like the Mental Capacity Act,” said Dr. Cavanagh.

Data published by the Welsh Government shows 135 people with a learning disability are currently in specialist inpatient services in Wales. In England, over 2,000 people with learning disabilities or autism are detained, and around half have been held for more than two years.

Campaigners say many of those individuals were initially admitted due to crises brought on by poor housing, isolation, or lack of support staff. Once inside, people deteriorate further, delaying discharge indefinitely.

‘Hospitals are not homes’

Joe Powell, Chief Executive of All Wales People First, told the crowd at the Senedd: “Wales led the way 41 years ago with the All Wales Strategy. It said hospitals are not homes and people should live in the community. Now we are going backwards.”

Despite claims of progress, families say that local Health Boards and councils face little accountability when placements fail.

The Welsh Government insists it is committed to reducing inpatient numbers and improving care. A spokesperson said: “We do not agree that people with learning disabilities are being systematically detained inappropriately. Where hospital care is used, a care plan must be in place and reviewed regularly.”

But campaigners are not reassured.

“It’s like the Post Office scandal,” said one mother at the protest. “They told each family their situation was unique—but the problem was the system all along.”

There is hope — but no time to waste

Elsewhere in Wales, community-based support is making a difference—when it’s available.

Sian McEvoy, 41, from Swansea, began volunteering at a local community farm after a long period of alcohol dependency and anxiety.

“When I was drinking, I didn’t leave the house for three years,” she said. “Now I’m out in the community, working with animals. It’s helped my mental health and given me the confidence to think about getting back into work.”

Steffan Thomas, 24, who is autistic, has volunteered at the same farm for four years.

“If I miss a week, I feel it,” he said. “This place keeps me grounded.”

Health experts say these are the kinds of solutions that need long-term investment—not short-term pilots.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, a Bevan Commission member, said: “Social prescribing and early intervention can prevent crisis—but only if the infrastructure is there. Without it, the NHS will be overwhelmed, and vulnerable people will fall through the cracks.”

As protesters packed up their banners outside the Senedd, Dr. Cavanagh said: “We don’t want more empty promises. We want people to come home.”

Responding to the Welsh Government’s plan, Welsh NHS Confederation Nesta Lloyd-Jones said: “We welcome the shift in approach set out in the new Welsh Government’s 10 year mental health and wellbeing strategy, which is centred on early intervention, prevention and person-centred care.

“As the strategy acknowledges, the building blocks of mental wellbeing start long before healthcare intervention – whether that’s education, housing, employment, access to green spaces and leisure, the arts and so on. Building more resilient communities, addressing health inequalities and tackling loneliness are essential to this too. The Welsh Government’s promise to prioritise action on mental health across all Welsh Government departments is a positive start on the journey to a cross-government approach to mental health, including the deployment of Health Impact Assessments.

“However, in these continuously financially challenging times, these sectors and services are among the first to be cut. We must think long-term and invest in these areas to make things better for individuals, healthcare services and the public purse.

“We know timely access to services play an important role in patient outcomes. NHS leaders support the concept of the no wrong door approach and the introduction of 111 press 2 is a good example of simplifying access for those reaching out for help.

“We know that societal inequalities put some groups at greater risk, underscoring the importance of providing these individuals with better resources and tackling barriers to accessing care. However, with rising demand for mental health services and the growing impact of climate change on mental wellbeing, a greater emphasis on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention is needed.

“Now this strategy has been published, the Welsh Government must ensure the resource and support is in place for sectors and organisations to deliver on the vision statements.”

Jemma Wray, Head of Wales at the Mental Health Foundation said: “We strongly welcome and support the new 10 year mental health strategy for Wales, and its vision to transform how the people of Wales are enabled and supported to live mentally healthy lives.

The strategy is grounded in an understanding that poor mental health can be prevented through ensuring that the building blocks of good mental health are in place, and that there is a system of connected community support available which enables people to connect with what they need, when they need it.

The delivery of this plan at a community level, ensuring the right infrastructure exists to support its implementation, will be vital in its success. It’s equally important that the Welsh Government continues to work alongside people with lived experience and that their improved outcomes are the measure of its impact.

We’re pleased to have been able to contribute to the development of this strategy during the consultation period, and look forward to supporting its implementation in collaboration with Welsh Government, NHS Executive, Public Health Wales, and the Wales Alliance for Mental Health among others to help improve the outcomes for those who are most at risk of developing poor mental health in Wales.”

Welsh Government says ‘a major shift’ is under way

The Welsh Government insists its new 10-year strategy marks a turning point for mental health care in Wales.

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: “This strategy represents a major shift in how we approach mental health and wellbeing. We are focusing on prevention, early intervention, and ensuring easy access to support when needed.”

The new strategy aims to expand open access and same-day support, building on the 111 “press 2” helpline and introducing a stepped care model, where people only move into more intensive treatment when truly necessary.

It also promotes person-centred care and social prescribing, such as linking people with community groups and activities instead of relying solely on clinical interventions.

“We’re working to address all the factors that affect wellbeing – from housing and employment to tackling loneliness,” Murphy added.

Initiatives already supported under the scheme include Walking Friends Wales, which helps older people reduce loneliness through group walks and social connection.

Campaigners, however, say that while the vision is welcome, the success of the strategy depends entirely on whether these services are funded and delivered at scale, and whether urgent cases of inappropriate detention are properly addressed.

As Dr. Cavanagh said at the Senedd protest:

“We don’t want more empty promises. We want people to come home.”