skip to main content
Dewis

Independent Mental Health Advocacy service (IMHA) - Advocacy

Last updated: 21/08/2025
Advocacy This resource can use the Welsh language This resource can use British Sign Language (BSL)
Leave comments/feedback for this resource

What we do

Advocacy Support Cymru (ASC) is a specialist advocacy provider currently delivering independent advocacy services in much of South Wales.

ASC provides a statutory independent mental health advocacy (IMHA) service to qualifying patients. We provide information on patient’s rights and help them exercise those rights. We provide a voice for individuals so that their needs and preferences are given consideration in the planning of their medication treatment and care.

An Advocate will help you to understand what choices you have and get information you need.

As an IMHA, we will help you to have your say about decisions that affect you and will help to make sure that you are listened to and that your rights are respected.

Who do we support

All inpatients in any hospital or registered establishment in Wales, who are being treated and/or assessed in relation to a mental disorder whilst in that setting are entitled by law to the support of an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA).

All Health Boards in Wales provide an IMHA service for qualifying patients in their area. At this time, ASC provides the IMHA service for Aneurin Bevan UHB, Cardiff & Vale UHB, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB and Swansea Bay UHB.

This service is for people of all ages.

Is there a charge to use this service?

No

Can anyone use this service?

Any in patient in psychiatric hospital both formal and informal, patients with a mental health diagnosis in general hospital and patients in the community on a Community Treatment Order or Guardianship Order.

 Address

 You can send post here:

Advocacy Support in Cymru Ltd
Unit 1 Charterhouse, Links Business Park
Fortran Road
St. Mellons
Cardiff
CF3 0LT

 Opening times

Monday to Saturday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4.30pm
Sunday CLOSED

Where do we provide our service?

We will take reasonable steps to ensure the information within the website is as accurate as possible. We cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. The contributors themselves maintain their own information and they welcome feedback about the accuracy of the information they provide. Those accessing it are advised to take reasonable steps to consider its content before acting upon it. This could include seeking professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information within our website.

Please note that the results found when searching in English or Welsh on the English and Welsh sides of the website (www.dewis.wales or www.dewis.cymru) will sometimes differ. Providers can (subject to rules around language standards that apply to some provision) choose to enter their information in English only, in Welsh only, or bilingually. Whilst we try to use the technology within the site to limit the impact of their choice, both terminology and the structure of the languages mean that differences in the results produced is sometimes inevitable.

We assume no responsibility for the content of websites linked on our site. Such links are provided for your information only and should not be interpreted as endorsement by us of those linked websites. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources. We reserve the right to reject or remove links to any website if we find the site content inappropriate.

For more information please refer to the full terms and conditions.

https://www.dewis.wales/ResourceDirectory/ViewResource.aspx?id=6787

Find more well-being information at www.dewis.wales

We will take reasonable steps to ensure the information within the website is as accurate as possible. We cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. The contributors themselves maintain their own information and they welcome feedback about the accuracy of the information they provide. Those accessing it are advised to take reasonable steps to consider its content before acting upon it. This could include seeking professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information within our website.

Please note that the results found when searching in English or Welsh on the English and Welsh sides of the website (www.dewis.wales or www.dewis.cymru) will sometimes differ. Providers can (subject to rules around language standards that apply to some provision) choose to enter their information in English only, in Welsh only, or bilingually. Whilst we try to use the technology within the site to limit the impact of their choice, both terminology and the structure of the languages mean that differences in the results produced is sometimes inevitable.

We assume no responsibility for the content of websites linked on our site. Such links are provided for your information only and should not be interpreted as endorsement by us of those linked websites. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources. We reserve the right to reject or remove links to any website if we find the site content inappropriate.

For more information please refer to the full terms and conditions.