Hafal are a charity in Wales for people with serious mental illness and their carers. Covering all areas of Wales, Hafal is an organisation managed by the people and they support: individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness.
Hafal (meaning ‘equal’) is the principal organisation in Wales working with individuals recovering from serious mental illness and their families. We are managed by the people we support – individuals with serious mental illness and their families.
Every day our staff and volunteers provide help to over 1,500 people affected by serious mental illness: this includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other diagnoses which typically involve psychosis or high levels of care, and which may require hospital treatment.
Hafal’s mission
Hafal is founded on the belief that people who have direct experience of mental illness know best how services can be delivered.
Providing support across the seven local health board areas of Wales, Hafal is dedicated to empowering people with serious mental illness and their families to:
- Achieve a better quality of life.
- Fulfill their ambitions for recovery.
- Fight discrimination.
- Enjoy equal access to health and social care, housing, income, education, and employment.
What do Hafal do?
Hafal delivers a range of services to people with serious mental health illness including direct support and advice, support in a crisis, contact with others by phone, advocacy, support in a group setting, introductions for befriending, and employment and training projects. They also give clients a much-needed voice in the planning of mental health services.
Underpinning their services to clients, families and members is their own Recovery Programme. This Programme is based on modern principles of self-management and empowerment. It encourages clients and families to work towards recovery with the help of Hafal’s staff and other supporters by taking a more methodical approach to improving all areas of life.
As well as providing services Hafal campaigns vigorously through research, publications and media work to improve services for clients and families and to remove stigma and isolation associated with serious mental illness. Hafal is also represented on the Welsh Assembly Government’s Implementation Group which advises on implementation of the Mental Health Strategy for Wales.