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Strengthening the workforce: Over 5,000 enrolments in HEIW's mental health e-learning

Published 30/03/2026

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is strengthening the healthcare workforce across Wales through its mental health e-learning programmes. Aligned to the Strategic Mental Health Workforce Plan for Health and Social Care, the courses now have over 5,000 enrolments. With this number continuing to increase, HEIW is helping to build a more skilled and confident workforce, strengthening the quality of mental health care provided across the country.  

The courses are available on Y Ty Dysgu, the national e-learning platform for NHS Wales. They are designed to support staff across health boards, social care, the third sector and volunteers, helping them to better understand mental health issues and provide improved care for patients across Wales. 

The courses cover key mental health areas, including: 

  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) 
  • Perinatal Mental Health 
  • Children’s rights (NEST) 
  • Dementia diagnosis (DiADeM Cymru) 
  • Learning disabilities 
  • Mental health foundation literacy 
  • Trauma awareness 
  • Clozapine and Lithium courses 
  • Introduction eating disorders  
  • The Parent Infant Relationship and Infant Mental Health 


HEIW has partnered with Welsh Government, Wales’ health boards, Social Care Wales and the third sector to deliver the most up to date learning. This ensures users have access to the most relevant and accurate information to support them in delivering quality care.

Since January 2024, over 5,000 enrolments have been recorded across these courses. This demonstrates strong engagement and commitment to improving understanding of mental health and delivering quality care in mental health across Wales.  

The e-learning courses help colleagues at all levels recognise signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, understand where to direct people for support and feel confident having open conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Learners report feeling more confident, informed and equipped to make a difference.

Feedback from participants highlights the value of these courses: 

  • “This training will help me approach patients with more encouragement to seek appropriate support.”
  • “This learning will change/alter my practice for when a patient with an eating disorder is admitted to the ward and I am able to take more of an appropriate approach to them.”
  • “As a fairly new school staff nurse my knowledge of this topic after this course has greatly increased and also interest in the topic. I feel I will be able to implement my knowledge within this role.” 
  • “I am also a foster carer and this has been a great source of learning and support in being more empathetic, understanding and supportive to those who I come into contact with.”
  • “I found that this course was a great refresher in developing practises in allowing me support the people I work with is a positive and safe way.”
  • “It has given me knowledge on how to deliver better service to someone with learning disabilities.”
     

This work directly supports HEIW’s strategic priority of delivering high quality education and training, as well as the Strategic Mental Health Workforce Plan for Health and Social Care and A Healthier Wales. By providing targeted national continuing professional development programmes, HEIW is helping to build a skilled, confident workforce that can deliver safe, effective and compassionate care to patients across Wales. 

For further information about HEIW’s mental health e-learning, email  HEIW’s Mental Health Team or visit  Y Ty Dysgu