Patients in mental health hospitals and units: as at 31 March 2025
Data on residents in NHS hospitals and units for people with a mental illness or a learning disability as at 31 March 2025.
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In this page
Introduction
This release presents summary results from the 2025 Psychiatric Census. Each year, at 31 March, a snapshot census is taken of the number of residents in NHS hospitals and units for people with a mental illness or a learning disability.
The Mental Health Act 1983, amended in 2007 (UK legislation), allows people with a mental disorder to be admitted to hospital, detained and treated without their consent; whether for their own health, safety, or for the protection of other people.
People can be admitted, detained and treated under different sections of the Mental Health Act. People who are compulsorily admitted to hospital are referred to as ‘formal’ patients and people who are admitted to hospital when they are unwell without the use of compulsory powers are referred to as ‘informal’ patients.
No data was collected in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic response, and 2021 and 2022 data was strongly affected by it. As a result, detailed data comparisons for these years with the wider timeline should be avoided. Some hospitals reported a change in practice to reduce numbers of resident patients in mental health facilities at this time, with greater provision of services within the community.
This release focusses on the most recent year and provides a ten-year time series for certain analyses. Summary data included in this release broken down by Local Health Board is available on StatsWales.
Main points
Resident patients with a mental illness, at 31 March 2025
- There were 1,235 resident patients, 43 (4%) more than 2024 but 195 (14%) less than 2016.
- The majority (58%) were formally detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation. This proportion has been increasing each year since 2022.
- The majority (57%) were being treated under the adult mental illness specialty, which has been the case in each year over the last decade.
- Patients treated under the old age psychiatry specialty has fallen by 29%, from 537 in 2016 to 381 in 2025. The decrease under this specialty has been a main reason for the decline in the total number of resident patients over the last 10 years.
- Over half (55%) of patients’ duration of stay was less than 3 months, which has been the most common length in almost every year over the last decade. 6% of patients’ stay was 2 years or over. The number of resident patients with a duration of stay of 2 years or over has decreased by around half in the last 10 years, from 154 in 2016 to 76 in 2025.
- Most (59%) were male, and this proportion increased for formally detained patients where 63% were male. These proportions have remained relatively stable over the last decade.
- The most common age group were 65 years or older (35%), although the proportion in this age group has fallen over the last decade.
Resident patients with a learning disability, at 31 March 2025
Learning disability data is based on small numbers of patients and therefore, can be volatile from year to year. More emphasis should be placed on longer term trends when interpreting this data.
- There were 81 resident patients, an increase of 12 (17%) from 2024 but 36 (31%) less than 2016.
- 51% were formally detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation. This is the first time in the last 10 years that more resident patients were formally detained than informally admitted, driven by a decline in the number of informal patients over the last decade.
- The majority (75%) were male, with 45-64 the most common age group (40%), and over 3 months but less than 2 years and 2 years and over the most common duration of stay (both 37%).
Patients in mental health hospitals and units for people with a mental illness
Method of admission
Figure 1: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by method of admission at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 1: line chart showing that the number of informal mental illness resident patients has decreased over the last 10 years whilst the number of formal patients has steadily risen and is now higher than informal patients.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
Patients in mental health hospitals and units in Wales with a mental illness on Statswales
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore, no data is available.
At 31 March 2025 there were 1,235 resident patients with a mental illness in mental health hospitals and units, 43 (4%) more than 2024 but 195 (14%) less than 2016. 58% (722) of these were formal patients whilst 42% (513) were informal patients.
Over the last decade there has been a downward trend in the overall number of resident patients, which has been driven by a fall in the number of informal patients, from 850 (59%) in 2016 to 513 (42%) in 2025. However, in the last 4 years the overall number has started to rise again because of a higher number of formal resident patients, from 580 (41%) in 2016 to 722 (58%) in 2025.
Trends relating to formal and informal patients have shifted over the last decade. Initially, more patients were informally admitted than formally detained under the Act, whereas, in 4 out of the last 5 years, a higher proportion of patients were formally detained than informally admitted.
The 4 hospitals with the most resident mental illness patients at 31st March 2025 accounted for 36% of all resident patients with a mental illness (Hafan y coed, Cefn Coed, Llandough and Wrexham Maelor) and the 10 hospitals with the most resident mental illness patients at 31st March accounted for 62% of all resident patients with a mental illness.
Treatment specialty
Figure 2: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by specialty at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 2: line chart showing most resident patients are being treated for adult mental illness over the last decade and a decline in the number of patients treated under the old age psychiatry specialty.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
In the last 10 years the number of resident patients under the adult mental illness, forensic psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry specialties have stayed broadly similar. However, the number of patients treated under the old age psychiatry specialty has fallen by 29%, from 537 in 2016 to 381 in 2025. The decreased number of patients under this specialty has contributed to the decline in the total number of resident patients over the last 10 years.
At 31 March 2025, 57% of patients were being treated under the adult mental illness specialty compared with 31% old age psychiatry, 10% forensic psychiatry and 2% child and adolescent psychiatry. Whilst the proportion of patients under both forensic and child and adolescent psychiatry have stayed mostly consistent over the past 10 years, the proportion of patients under the adult mental illness specialty has risen (51% to 57%) and the proportion of patients under old age psychiatry has fallen (38% to 31%).
Male patients accounted for 91% (117 out of 128) of the total forensic psychiatry residents at 31 March 2025, which has been relatively consistent over the last 10 years. Female patients accounted for 78% (18 of 23) of the total child and adolescent psychiatry residents.
Length of stay
Figure 3: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by length of stay at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 3: line chart showing that most patients’ duration of stay is less than 3 months and has been the case consistently over the last decade, except for 2023. There has also been a decline in the number of patients staying 2 years and over.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
In the last 10 years the number of resident patients with a duration of stay of 2 years or over has decreased by approximately half from 154 in 2016 to 76 in 2025. This is the lowest number of patients with this duration of stay in the last decade.
The number of patients with a duration of stay of less than 3 months has seen a slight decrease overall over the last 10 years (741 patients in 2016 to 682 in 2025). This number reached it’s lowest point over this period in 2023 (519 patients) but has been rising since.
At 31 March 2025, 55% of patients had a duration of stay that was less than 3 months compared with 39% of patients staying from 3 months to less than 2 years and 6% of patients staying for 2 years or over.
Male patients accounted for 86% (65 out of 76) of the total residents with a duration of stay 2 years and over. This proportion has notably increased from 2016 when they accounted for 60% (92 out of 154) of total residents with a duration of stay 2 year and over. In this time, the female patient total with a duration of stay 2 years or over has fallen from 62 in 2016 to 11 in 2025, a decrease of 82%.
Characteristics of patients
Figure 4: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by sex at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 4: line chart showing that the number of male and female resident patients has decreased over the last 10 years, but in recent years both have increased. There has been consistently more male than female residents each year.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
At 31 March 2025, of the 1,235 total resident patients with a mental illness, there were 727 (59%) males and 508 (41%) females. The number of female patients has decreased more than male patients over the last decade, with the total number of females down from 625 (19%) in 2016 and males down from 805 (10%). Whilst there is still an overall decline in female patients since 2016, the number of female patients has been rising consistently over the past 5 years.
There have consistently been a higher number of male patients than female over the last 10 years., However, this gap appears to be narrowing over the last 4 years with the number of female patients now increasing quicker than male patients.
Figure 5: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by age group at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 5: line chart showing the most common resident patients by age group was 65 and over but that the number in this age group has fallen considerably over the last decade.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
In the last 10 years the number of older patients (65 and older) has significantly fallen from 650 in 2016 to 430 in 2025, a decrease of 34%. This number reached it’s lowest point in 2021 and has been rising each year since.
At 31 March 2025, the number of patients aged under 25 fell to the lowest total in the last 10 years from 114 in 2016 to 98 in 2025.
In 2025 8% of patients were under 25 years old, 31% were 25 to 44 years old, 27% were 45 to 64 years old and 35% were 65 years or older. Whilst the proportion of patients in the other age groups have either remained consistent or increased over the last 10 years, the proportion of patients aged 65 over has decreased from 45% in 2016 to 35% in 2025.
When analysing by age group and sex, the number of resident patients are similar in the under 25 and 65 and over age groups. There are, however, roughly double the number of males than females in the 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 age groups.
Figure 6: percentage of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a mental illness by stated ethnicity at 31 March 2025, compared to the wider population [Note 1]
Description for figure 6: bar chart showing the large majority of mental illness resident patients were recorded in the White ethnic group (94.3%). The next highest ethnic group was Black/ Black British/ Caribbean or African (2.3%).
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] 20% of patient records had undisclosed ethnicity data in 2025. These undisclosed patient records have not been included when calculating percentage proportions of ethnic group and we do not know the distribution of these missing records. It is unlikely that these records would have the same distribution across the ethnic groups as the disclosed records. Consequently, figures reported here should be interpreted based on general trends of each group rather than small differences between each group.
A similar proportion of resident patients who disclosed their ethnicity were from White, Mixed/ Multiple or Other ethnic groups compared to the general population, according to the Census 2021 (ONS). Whereas over double the expected proportion of patients were from the Black/ Black British/ Caribbean or African ethnic group compared to the general population. The Asian/ Asian British ethnic group had a lower proportion of patients compared to the general population. 20% of patient records had undisclosed ethnicity data in 2025. These undisclosed patient records have not been included when calculating percentage proportions of ethnic group and we do not know the distribution of these missing records. It is unlikely that these records would have the same distribution across the ethnic groups as the disclosed records. Consequently, figures reported here should be interpreted based on general trends of each group rather than small differences between each group.
Patients in mental health hospitals and units for people with a learning disability
Learning disability data is based on small numbers of patients and therefore, can be volatile from year to year. More emphasis should be placed on longer term trends when interpreting this data.
Method of admission
Figure 7: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a learning disability by method of admission at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 7: line chart showing that the total number and informal number of learning disability resident patients has decreased over the last 10 years whilst the formal number has increased.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
Patients in mental health hospitals and units in Wales with a learning disability on Statswales
At 31 March 2025 there were 81 resident patients with a learning disability, an increase of 12 (17%) from 2024 but 36 (31%) less than 2016.
2025 marked the only time in the last 10 years that there were more formal patients (51%) than informal patients (49%). This contrasts with 2016 when 76% of patients were informal and 24% formal.
Overall, the number of informal patients decreased by over half, from 89 in 2016 to 40 in 2025. In contrast, the number of patients formally detained in the last 10 years increased from 28 in 2016 to 41 in 2024 (46% increase).
71% of formally detained patients were male with 29% female and 80% of informal resident patients were male with 20% female.
4 out of the 7 local health boards (LHB) had learning disability resident patients on 31 March 2025. As in previous years, Swansea Bay had the majority of these with 48 (59%), split between 7 hospitals. The other LHBs to have learning disability resident patients were Betsi Cadwaladr (15 patients), Aneurin Bevan (15) and Hywel Dda (3).
Length of stay
Figure 8: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a learning disability by length of stay at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 8: line chart showing most resident patients’ duration of stay was either 3 months to under 2 years or 2 years and over in the previous 2 years. Prior to 2022, the most common duration of stay was consistently 2 years and over, but this group has seen a notable decline.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
In the last 10 years the number of resident patients with a duration of stay of 2 years or over fell from 74 in 2016 to 30 in 2025.This decline appears to be a large contributor to the overall decrease in the total number of resident patients with a learning disability. In contrast, the number of resident patients with a duration of stay under 3 months in the last 10 years has more than doubled from 9 in 2016 to 21 in 2025.
At 31 March 2025, 37% of patients had a duration of stay of 2 years or more compared with 63% in 2016 and 26% of patients had a duration of stay under 3 months compared with 8% in 2016. This 37% for learning disability patients with a stay 2 years or over compares with just 6% of mental illness patients in 2025.
Male patients with a stay of 2 years and over halved from 50 in 2016 to 25 in 2025.This decrease can mainly be attributed to the number of patients whose stay lasted 10 years or over, with this number decreasing from 29 in 2016 to 10 in 2025. Similarly, female patients with a stay 2 years or over fell from 24 in 2016 to 5 in 2025.
Characteristics of patients
Figure 9: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a learning disability by sex at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 9: line chart showing that the number of male and female resident patients has decreased over the last 10 years. There has been consistently more male than female residents each year.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
At 31 March 2025, of the 81 resident patients with a learning disability, there were 61 male patients down from 77 in 2016, compared with 20 females down from 40 in 2016. The 2025 total of male patients (61) was the highest since 2019.
75% of patients were male compared with 25% female, continuing the trend of more males patients than females in each of the last 10 years. The proportion of male patients at 31 March 2025 is the highest in the last 10 years.
Figure 10: number of resident patients in mental health hospitals and units with a learning disability by age group at 31 March, 2016 to 2025 [Note 1]
Description of figure 10: line chart showing the majority of resident patients were found in the 45 to 64 age group which has been consistently the case over the last decade.
Source: Psychiatric Census collection, Welsh Government
[Note 1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the psychiatric census was suspended for 2020, therefore no data is available.
In the last 10 years all age groups have seen a decrease in numbers, except for the under 25 age group which doubled from 7 in 2016 to 14 in 2025.
At 31 March 2025, the number of resident patients aged 65 and over fell from 15 in 2016 to 6 in 2025, a decrease of 60%. Similarly, the 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 age groups have decreased by 29% (41 to 29) and 41% (54 to 32) respectively.
In 2025, 17% of patients were under 25 years old; 36% were 25 to 44 years old; 40% were 45 to 64 years old and 7% were 65 years or older.
99% of learning disability patients who disclosed their ethnicity were recorded in the White ethnic group. 9% of patient records had undisclosed ethnicity data in 2025. These undisclosed patient records have not been included when calculating percentage proportions of ethnic group and we do not know the distribution of these missing records. It is unlikely that these records would have the same distribution across the ethnic groups as the disclosed records. Consequently, figures reported here should be interpreted based on general trends of each group rather than small differences between each group.
Quality and methodology information
The census is taken at midnight on 31 March each year and covers patients in NHS mental health hospitals and mental health units in NHS hospitals in Wales which may have other specialties. Mental health hospitals and units include those patients with a learning disability as well as those with a mental illness. It does not include Welsh residents who are patients at hospitals in England but can include patients who are resident in England.
Comparability
There is similar information available from other parts of the UK but the data is not exactly comparable due to local definitions and standards in each area.
England
Mental Health Data Hub (NHS Digital)
Scotland
Learning disability inpatient activity (Public Health Scotland)
Northern Ireland
Mental Health & Learning Disability (Department of Health Northern Ireland)
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Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
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Trustworthiness
The main source of information is the annual Psychiatric Census data collection which is collected from individual Local Health Boards by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) and are subject to validation checks centrally prior to publication.
For the data on 31 March 2013 onwards, further checks were introduced by DHCW to eliminate duplicate records. This has not been applied to historic data as the impact is expected to be minimal. It is the responsibility of Local Health Boards to ensure that the figures have been compiled correctly in accordance with central definitions and guidelines.
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Value
The statistics are important and have a number of uses, for example: advice to Ministers; NHS Wales; media; informing the debate in the Welsh Parliament and beyond; assisting in research in mental health issues; economic analysis.
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Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFG)
The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. Under section 10(8) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, where the Welsh Ministers revise the national indicators, they must as soon as reasonably practicable (a) publish the indicators as revised and (b) lay a copy of them before the Senedd. These national indicators were laid before the Senedd in 2021. The indicators laid on 14 December 2021 replace the set laid on 16 March 2016.
Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the wellbeing goals and associated technical information is available in the Wellbeing of Wales report.
Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
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