A community approach to crisis: how Shared Lives is transforming mental health support in South East Wales

Launched in 2019 and delivered in partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, the scheme supports people across seven counties. It’s the only crisis-focused Shared Lives scheme in Wales. Instead of staying in hospital, people facing a mental health crisis are matched with trained Shared Lives carers, who welcome them into their homes and provide stability and support in a family setting.

“In a Shared Lives home, people are treated as individuals, not patients. That personal, human connection is what helps them heal,” said Emma.

Today, more than 300 Shared Lives households are registered with the scheme, supporting people with a wide range of needs – from mental ill health to substance misuse and physical disabilities. Every placement is carefully matched to ensure the person gets the right support, at the right time, for as long as they need it.

Emma has seen first-hand how the smallest moments can be the most transformative. She recalls one woman who, after being discharged from hospital, regained her self-esteem simply by doing something as ordinary as ironing in her carer’s home. In another case, a young woman who had survived an assault was struggling on a busy, mixed-gender ward. The scheme matched her with a compassionate female carer, giving her space to begin healing.

“It’s those small, personal touches that make all the difference,” Emma said. “They’re the building blocks of recovery.”

Since its launch, the scheme has gone from a local pilot to a nationally recognised model. In 2021, the World Health Organisation identified it as a Best Practice example of community mental health support. It has also won awards from We Care Wales and the Ajuda Foundation for its innovative, partnership-based approach.

Emma believes in the power of relationships – and in the potential of Shared Lives to reshape how we think about mental health support.

“This service proves real collaboration between health and social care is possible. We share information, responsibilities, and work as part of mental health teams. This partnership model works – and, more importantly, it’s making a difference.”

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, Emma’s message is simple: community changes lives.

“Shared Lives opens doors for people to live with dignity and independence in their community,” she said. “It’s a model of care that respects people as individuals and brings together the best of health and social care. That’s what makes it so powerful.”