Senedd inquiry hears about importance of psychology in management of chronic conditions

Committee members were told that it was only through this understanding that people living with chronic conditions would be able to receive the person-centred, holistic care they needed.

Representatives from the Royal Colleges Mental Health Expert Advisory Group (RCMHEAG), of which the BPS is a member, and the Centre for Mental Health were invited to give oral evidence to the committee to explain the importance of addressing the mental health and wellbeing of those diagnosed with a long-term chronic condition.

The committee heard that to provide holistic and psychologically informed care, services need sufficient time to develop the necessary environment where all staff can train and grow these skills. 

In its written response to the first stage of the inquiry last year, the BPS said that psychologists are key to helping support people diagnosed with chronic conditions. They also have a crucial role to play in upskilling other health professionals within their teams to develop and use psychological skills, and can help to embed psychology in primary care services.

Owen Hughes, consultant counselling psychologist and National Clinical Lead for Pain Management, NHS Executive, who contributed to the society's written response to the inquiry, said:

"Being diagnosed with a chronic condition can have a significant psychological impact, affecting a person's mental health, emotional state, and overall quality of life. Chronic conditions, by their persistent and often progressive nature, introduce several challenges that can influence mental wellbeing.

"Psychological resilience and the availability of support systems will greatly influence how a person adjusts to living well with a chronic condition. 

"Effectively managing the psychological impacts often requires a comprehensive approach, including support from healthcare providers (such as psychologists), supportive friends and family, and community resources. 

"Engaging with these resources can really help individuals not only manage the physical symptoms of their condition but also the mental health challenges that they so often face."

The BPS's written response also highlights specific areas of psychology that are crucial to the management of chronic conditions, as well as concern about insufficient training places in some of these areas.

The committee will now consider all the evidence they've gathered throughout the inquiry and publish their findings, alongside recommendations to the Welsh government, in a report in the coming months.

Read the society's full written response.