With all Welsh party manifestos now published, there's clear evidence of strong support for our policy priorities across all six parties standing in the Senedd election.

This includes 14 of our policy priorities directly reflected across the manifestos, with a further five partially reflected.

Investment in mental health services in Wales

Welsh Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, the Welsh Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have all reflected our call to prioritise and increase investment in mental health services in Wales.

Welsh Labour has also set out plans to expand NHS investment by £4 billion over the next parliament. Other parties have not provided costings for this commitment.

Expanding the NHS mental health workforce in Wales

Another priority was our call for parties to expand the NHS mental health workforce in Wales — this was reflected in four of the six manifestos.

Plaid Cymru, currently leading in the polls, set out ambitions to increase the number of mental health professionals working in primary care. This is included in the manifestos of Welsh Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Green Party.

Plaid Cymru’s manifesto also highlights investment in counselling to support flood victims.

Reform UK focuses on prioritising funding for men’s community mental health and suicide prevention services, a sector in which many of our members work.

Third sector funding and community mental health services

There's strong support for our call for sustainable multi-year funding for third sector providers, particularly from Welsh Labour and the Welsh Green Party.

The Welsh Conservatives have highlighted their intention to prioritise funding for community-based support services for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, a sector that relies heavily on the counselling workforce.

School counselling and support for children and young people

Specific commitments to expanding school counselling provision in Wales are included in both the Welsh Labour and Welsh Green Party manifestos.

Plaid Cymru commited to expanding specialist and trauma-informed support within schools through a Community Schools Plus programme.

Reform UK has pledged to reduce crisis demand and ensure that young people do not fall through gaps at critical points.

LGBTQ+ inclusion and conversion practices

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Green Party support our call to prioritise a ban on conversion practices.

Welsh Labour is less specific but highlighted its intention to publish an updated LGBTQ+ Action Plan. The current iteration of this plan includes a commitment to an inclusive ban in Wales.

How members can support ahead of polling day

Steve Mulligan, Four Nations Lead, said:

“While we're pleased to see so many of our policy asks reflected in the manifestos, we can't afford to be complacent.

“Polling continues to suggest the likelihood of a hung parliament, with Plaid Cymru as the largest party. It's not yet clear who they may need to partner with to form a government.

“It is vital that we continue to build strong support across all parties and among newly elected Members of the Senedd.

“With just two weeks to go until polling day, we're encouraging members to write to all candidates standing in their constituency, using the letter provided on our campaign website.

“This is the best way to build on this success and further strengthen support for counselling and psychotherapy across Wales.”