BPS Wales Welsh Language Event: Current practice and Future Ambition.
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About
This free to attend event is open to all psychological divisions, faculties, group, and sections, and aims to be inclusive to all language ability.
The event will be held online using Zoom, please note their will be no real-time translation services but will be considered for future events.
The Welsh Language Strategy targets to achieve 1 million Welsh Speakers and double daily use of Welsh by 2050 (Welsh Government, 2021). The annual population survey (APS) indicates as of 2023 there are approximately 851,700 number of Welsh speakers aged 3 years and over, and is following an upward trend (Welsh Government, 2025). This focus on the use of Welsh language also applies to the National Health Service here in Wales, with the use of the "active offer" and use of Welsh at work (Health Education and Improvement Wales, 2025) and "More Than Just Words" to imbed Welsh Language across Health and Social Care by 2027 (Welsh Government, 2022).
Acciaioli & Baily (2024) reviewed the literature on Welsh-speakers accessing mental health support which highlighted that clients felt a sense of comfort, safety, and ease when using their preferred language, promoted their sense of identity, and its importance on the therapeutic relationship. In contrast, themes of stereotyping and stigma were also present impacting a desire to ask about Welsh-language options alongside rare offers on language choice. It was also noted that when Welsh-language choices were voiced, this was rarely acted upon and there was a noticeable lack of Welsh-speaking staff. A recent publication by Jerrett & Mizen (2024) on the proficiency and confidence of using Welsh in psychological therapy settings indicated a breadth of proficiency from fluent to non-proficient and a lack of confidence in utilising the language through work and resources.
A suggestion to encourage development of proficiency was time for work-related learning and networking opportunities such as this event.
We will hear from Gwenno Acciaoli, who will talk about - Welsh-speakers accessing mental health support: a review of the literature
The 'No Wrong Door' approach states that, by 2032, anyone seeking mental health, autism and/or learning disability support can present anywhere within the health system and receive suitable support (NHS Confederation, 2022). 'More Than Just Words' also aims to embed the Welsh language across all health and social care in Wales by 2027 (Welsh Government, 2022). It can, therefore, be said that health and social care aim to place service users at their core. Little research has explored the experiences of Welsh speakers accessing mental health support, however. This review summarises the existing research and highlights the service needs for this topic, which is particularly relevant when considering these governmental policies.
Am
Bydd y digwyddiad yn cael ei gynnal ar-lein gan ddefnyddio Zoom. Sylwch na fydd gwasanaethau cyfieithu amser GO IAWN ar gael, ond FE FYDDWN YN eu hystyried ar gyfer digwyddiadau yn y dyfodol.
Mae'r digwyddiad am ddim hon yn agored i bob adran, cyfadrannau, grŵp, ac adran seicolegol, a'i nod yw bod yn gynhwysol i bob gallu iaith. Mae'r Strategaeth Gymraeg yn targedu cyflawni 1 miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg a dyblu'r defnydd dyddiol o'r Gymraeg erbyn 2050 (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2021). Mae'r arolwg blynyddol o'r boblogaeth yn dangos bod tua 851,700 o siaradwyr Cymraeg dros 3 oed yn 2023, ac mae'n dilyn tuedd o cynyddu (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2025). Mae'r ffocws hwn ar y defnydd o'r Gymraeg hefyd yn berthnasol i'r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol yma yng Nghymru, gyda'r defnydd o'r "cynnig gweithredol" a'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn y gwaithle (Addysg a Gwelliant Iechyd Cymru, 2025) a "Mwy na Geiriau yn Unig" i ymgorffori'r Gymraeg ar draws Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol erbyn 2027 (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2022). Adolygodd Acciaioli & Baily (2024) y llenyddiaeth ar gymorth iechyd meddwl sydd ar gael i siaradwyr Cymraeg; fe amlygodd fod cleientiaid yn teimlo ymdeimlad o gysur, diogelwch a rhwyddineb wrth ddefnyddio eu hoff iaith, hyrwyddo eu hymdeimlad o hunaniaeth, a'i bwysigrwydd ar y berthynas therapiwtig. Mewn cyferbyniad, roedd themâu stereoteipio a stigma hefyd yn bresennol gan effeithio ar awydd i ofyn am opsiynau Cymraeg ochr yn ochr â chynigion prin ar ddewis iaith. Nodwyd hefyd, pan oedd dewisiadau Cymraeg yn cael eu lleisio, yn anaml y gweithredwyd ar hyn ac roedd diffyg sylweddol o staff sy'n siarad Cymraeg. Roedd cyhoeddiad diweddar gan Jerrett & Mizen (2024) ar hyfedredd a hyder defnyddio'r Gymraeg mewn lleoliadau therapi seicolegol yn dangos ehangder o ddefnyddio'r iaith drwy waith ac adnoddauo, odd hyfedredd o rhugl i anhyfedr. Awgrym i annog datblygiad hyfedredd oedd amser ar gyfer cyfleoedd dysgu a rhwydweithio sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith fel y digwyddiad hwn.
Byddwn yn clywed gan Gwenno Acciaoli, a fydd yn siarad am - Mynediad at gefnogaeth iechyd meddwl gan siaradwyr Cymraeg: adolygiad o'r llenyddiaeth.
Mae'r dull 'No Wrong Door' yn nodi, erbyn 2032, y gall unrhyw un sy'n ceisio cymorth iechyd meddwl, awtistiaeth a/neu anabledd dysgu gyflwyno unrhyw le yn y system iechyd a derbyn cymorth addas (Cydffederasiwn GIG, 2022). Nod 'More Than Just Words' hefyd yw ymgorffori'r Gymraeg ar draws yr holl iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru erbyn 2027 (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2022). Gellir dweud, felly, bod iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn anelu at roi defnyddwyr gwasanaeth yn eu craidd. Fodd bynnag, ychydig o ymchwil sydd wedi archwilio profiadau siaradwyr Cymraeg sy'n cael mynediad at gymorth iechyd meddwl. Mae'r adolygiad hwn yn crynhoi'r ymchwil bresennol ac yn tynnu sylw at anghenion gwasanaeth y pwnc hwn, sy'n arbennig o berthnasol wrth ystyried y polisïau llywodraethol hyn.
Registration
Registration is FREE for members and non-members and available online only.
Programme
09:30 | Welcome and Introductions Thomas Jones Trainee Clinical Psychologist & Welsh Language Representative on the Wales BPS Committee |
09:45 | Gwenno Acciaoli Article: Welsh-speakers accessing mental health support: a review of the literature |
10:20 | To be announced |
10:55 | Break |
11:15 | Break out Rooms Questions
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12:00 | Feedback from Breakout Rooms Thomas Jones Trainee Clinical Psychologist & Welsh Language Representative on the Wales BPS Committee |
12:30 | Close |
Want to speak to one of the team?
Contact us at [email protected].