The cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating impact on the lives of people living in Wales and is widening inequalities for those who are most vulnerable.
Research from a YouGov survey revealed that more than half (61%) of people in Wales said their current financial situation was damaging their mental health.
Neil Ingham, Executive Director for Samaritans Cymru, said “the challenges for young people are unprecedented” having lived through a pandemic during their formative education on top of the increasing financial pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.
This is why I welcome the £2.3 million which has been made available for university mental health and well-being services by Welsh Government.
Neil Ingham, Executive Director Samaritans Cymru
“Over the past year at Samaritans, we have strengthened our working partnership with institutions in higher education and have a number of resources in place to support them,” he said.
These resources include Step by Step, a post-vention support for any institutions that have experienced a death by suicide and Compassion in Education which provides guidance for staff to help them better support their community.
Neil said, “I am very keen to build on that work by forging stronger links with Universities and Student Unions in Wales so that suicide prevention is a key aspect of their work.”