Mental and social well-being form the foundations of lifelong health and well-being. Mental well-being when high, can mitigate the impact of the wider determinants on health and conversely, when low can exacerbate their impact. Mental well-being at an individual level is strongly influenced by the social environment in which we live, work, play and learn. The early years of life are central to the development of the foundations for mental well-being; where these conditions are not consistent, long-term harm to individuals may arise as a result of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Psychological, behavioural and environmental factors affecting mental health
1. What behavioural factors significantly contribute to positive parenting behaviours, particularly within key population groups, and what role do these determinants play in shaping effective parenting practices?
2. How do life course transitions influence mental and social well-being, and what specific impacts are associated with these transitions?
3. What factors act as barriers and facilitators for cultivating individual agency in manners that positively impact both mental and physical health and overall well-being?
4. How do social, economic, and commercial factors contribute to adverse childhood experiences and violence across different life stages, and how can these be mitigated?
5. What impact has the Welsh ban on child physical punishment had on parenting attitudes and behaviours and on child well-being in Wales?
6. What enduring effects have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being, particularly among young individuals?
7. How does the interaction of environmental, social and economic factors with an individual’s genomics, impact mental health, and mental health outcomes?
Role of Social Capital
1. What is the current status of social and human capital, which elements exert the most impact on health, well-being, and equity and how might these evolve in the future within Wales?
2. Which interventions or policies are demonstrated to effectively cultivate social and human capital in ways that yield positive outcomes for health, well-being, and equity?
3. What lessons can be drawn from the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crises that shed light on the barriers and catalysts for nurturing social capital within communities?