A new campaign amplifying lived experience across North Wales
TCC is proud to be working in partnership with Advance Brighter Futures to launch the Mental Health Voices Collaboration — a new campaign focused on ensuring that people’s real experiences of mental health are heard, understood, and acted upon.
Launched during Mental Health Awareness Week, this collaboration brings together local organisations, communities, and individuals to shine a light on the realities of accessing mental health support across North Wales.
Why This Campaign Matters
Over recent months, people with lived experience have shared a consistent message:
- They are not being heard
- Accessing support is still too difficult
- Too many are left without help when they need it most
The Mental Health Voices Collaboration is rooted in these experiences. It aims to create space for honest conversations and ensure that voices often overlooked are brought to the forefront.
The Collaboration will bring people together to share real experiences of mental health support and help shape positive change locally. By listening to the stories of those directly impacted by mental health, we can better understand what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change.
The work is guided by our principles, ECHO:
E – Experience-led
Lived experience is at the heart of everything we do. We believe the people who use services, face barriers, and navigate challenges every day are best placed to help shape better support. MHVC creates space for these experiences to be shared, heard, and used to influence meaningful local change.
C – Community voices
Mental health affects people in different ways, and every voice matters. We want to hear from individuals, as well as organisations supporting people across our communities. This includes those impacted by substance use, domestic abuse, poverty, and any other challenges that can affect mental health. By bringing these voices together, we can better understand how different communities are affected, build a clearer picture of local needs.
H – Honest conversations
Real change starts with open and honest conversations. MHVC provides a safe and respectful space for people to share their experiences, including the tough conversations about what isn’t working and where people are facing barriers. These discussions aren’t about blaming or criticising services, but about understanding challenges openly so we can identify practical, realistic ways to strengthen mental health support locally and influence positive change.
O – Open dialogue
This isn’t a one-off conversation – it’s an ongoing dialogue. MHVC is about listening, learning, and working together over time. By keeping communication open between communities, organisations, and decision-makers, we can continue to shape better mental health support informed by real experiences.
What the Campaign Will Focus On
While the campaign is still being shaped through ongoing listening exercises, it will centre around three key areas:
Amplifying Lived Experience
Creating platforms for individuals to share their stories safely and authentically.
Raising Awareness
Encouraging open conversations around mental health and suicide, helping to reduce stigma and increase understanding.
Improving Access to Support
Highlighting the barriers people face and advocating for more accessible, compassionate, and connected services.
A Collaborative Approach
This campaign reflects a shared commitment between TCC and Advance Brighter Futures to work with communities, not just for them.
By partnering with local organisations and engaging directly with people who have lived experience, the Mental Health Voices Collaboration will continue to grow and evolve — shaped by the voices it seeks to represent.
Be part of the collaboration
Whether you’ve personally accessed mental health support, care for someone who has, or work in a role supporting people in our community – this campaign is for you.
If you’re joining us as someone who works or volunteers supporting people in our community, please share this with your colleagues and – if you can – bring along the people you support who would like to share their story to help us shape the campaign.
We want to hear real experiences, from every angle.
We have now also launched our online form where you can share your lived experience and feedback with us: https://forms.office.com/e/YhArdPqGzx or scan the QR below.
Coming Soon
The campaign will officially launch in May 2026. In the lead-up, further listening work and community engagement will help shape its direction and priorities.
More information, stories, and ways to get involved will be shared soon.
Photo Credits – redd-francisco via Unsplash and naassom-azevedo via Unsplash
