This report presents findings from a cross-sectional panel survey completed in February 2026 by 1,656 people aged 16 years and over who live in Wales. The survey was completed using Time to Talk Public Health (TTPH), a broadly representative population panel run by Public Health Wales to regularly engage with the public on a variety of public health topics.
Topics in this survey were:
– Cold homes
– Violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence
– Second-hand smoking
– Child poverty.
If you are interested in the demographic breakdown data associated with this report, please contact [email protected].
The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.
The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.
View the latest issue here.
Authors: Laura Holt, Jo Harrington+ 8 more
, Leo Lewis, Jippe Miedema, Henk Hilderink, Keira Charteris, Charlotte Welch, Stanley Ukpai, Mariana Dyakova, Muqaddasa Abdul Wahid
Understanding food environments and portion size behaviours in Wales
This report presents findings from a cross-sectional survey of 1,460 people aged 16 years and over who live in Wales, conducted through the Time to Talk Public Health (TTPH) population panel. The sample was broadly representative of people living in Wales. The survey explored types of main meals eaten, lunchtime behaviours when away from the home, meal finishing behaviour, and portion size behaviours and attitudes. Analysis by socio-demographic characteristics identified population groups more likely at risk of engaging in behaviours associated with living with overweight and obesity. These groups were young adults, males, people living in more deprived areas, and those who perceive themselves as heavier. More action is needed to address what drives these behaviours.
This report presents findings from a national household survey of adults aged 60 years and over in Wales. The survey asked about a range of adverse experiences since the age of 60, including exposure to abuse, feeling lonely or socially isolated, struggling financially, being unable to access health or social care, and feeling overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities. The report examines relationships between these five experiences and participants’ health and wellbeing, including self-rated bad health, alcohol and tobacco use, mental health, life satisfaction and ageism experience. It finds that abuse, feeling lonely or socially isolated and struggling financially in later life are independently associated with poorer health.
Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly being recognised as public health challenges. This report aims to present loneliness, social isolation and social connection in Wales from a public health perspective. Intended for professionals, policymakers and other individuals working directly or indirectly in the field of social connection, it includes data and evidence on: the prevalence of loneliness, social isolation and social connection in Wales and the population groups most affected; factors that increase the risk of loneliness and social isolation; impacts on health and well-being; evidence on solutions; examples of good practice in Wales; and key areas for future action.
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the October 2025 survey covering: Source of Health Information, Health Policy, Health and Well-Being After Pregnancy, Ageism, and Public Health Wales.
The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.
The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.
View the latest issue here.
Authors: Laura Holt, Jo Harrington+ 5 more
, Karen Hughes, Sara Wood, Joanne C. Hopkins, Keira Charteris, Liz Green
This study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, examined the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and childhood poverty in life course health and prosperity.
Using a sample of 5,330 adults from five local authorities in England, the study found that ACEs were significantly related to childhood poverty. Both ACEs and childhood poverty were associated with poorer life outcomes, including for self-rated health, chronic health conditions, mental well-being, employment and income.
The findings underscore the need for investment in interventions and policies to prevent intergenerational cycles of abuse and poverty.
Authors: Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes+ 4 more
, Kat Ford, Nadia Butler, Charley Wilson, Zara Quigg
A new report by Public Health Wales brings together the latest evidence, behavioural insights and practical tools to support health and care colleagues and services in preparing for the winter months.
The report, Winter Well-being: Shared Actions and Impact, is designed to complement existing NHS and Welsh Government winter planning frameworks. It provides actionable guidance and checklists to help teams strengthen system resilience, maintain population health, and ease demand on services.
The report also highlights the importance of prevention, including protecting against winter viruses by getting vaccinated against flu, RSV and COVID-19, staying active, eating warm meals, checking in on neighbours, and taking vitamin D daily to stay healthy through the colder months.
Authors: Ashley Gould, Kat Ford+ 7 more
, Elizabeth Augarde, Karen Hughes, Natasha Judd, Alice Cline, Molly Bellis, Carys Dale, Sumina Azam
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the June 2025 Survey covering: Type 2 diabetes, use of gloves in healthcare settings, incontinence, dental health, climate change and public health policy.
Out-of-home care placements can profoundly impact children, families, and society. This systematic review synthesises findings from existing reviews on factors associated with entry and re-entry into out-of-home care.
The evidence highlights key factors associated with out-of-home care entry, including child-level factors (ethnicity, health, behaviour), family-level factors (parental socioeconomic adversities, substance use), community-level factors (neighbourhood conditions), and system-level factors (prior child welfare involvement). The review also identifies several factors associated with children remaining with their birth families and not entering out-of-home care.
Factors associated with childhood out-of-home care entry are multi-faceted and complex. There is opportunity for policymakers and practitioners to adopt preventative and holistic interventions to promote the wellbeing and stability of children and families.
Authors: Richmond Opoku, Natasha Judd+ 10 more
, Katie Cresswell, Michael Parker, Michaela James, Jonathan Scourfield, Karen Hughes, Jane Noyes, Dan Bristow, Evangelos Kontopantelis, Sinead Brophy, Natasha Kennedy
This study examined relationships between physical and verbal abuse in childhood and adult mental well-being. The study, published in the journal BMJ Open, used data from surveys conducted in Wales and England between 2012 and 2024. It found that childhood verbal abuse was associated with similar increases in risk of low mental well-being as childhood physical abuse. The study also measured trends in self-reported physical and verbal abuse across birth cohorts.
Authors: Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes+ 4 more
, Kat Ford, Zara Quigg, Nadia Butler, Charley Wilson
To support the response of the Community Relations and Wellbeing Workstream of the TATA Steel UK Transition Board, Public Health Wales commissioned a regional survey as part of Time to Talk Public Health to investigate the health, social and financial status of people living in Neath Port Talbot as the area experiences the changes at TATA Steel. The survey was completed between January and March 2025 with 301 people who were representative of the local area by age, sex and deprivation. This report presents the findings of the regional survey.
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the February 2025 Survey covering: Primary care and health inequalities; Delivery of primary care services; Social connectedness; Personal well-being; Financial security; Minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol; Breast screening and artificial intelligence (AI).
Research has consistently shown a higher prevalence of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation and attempts among active-duty military personnel and veterans compared to the general population. Traumatic experiences in adulthood, particularly those encountered during military deployment, can significantly increase the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between trauma exposure in adulthood and suicidal experiences within military populations.
The findings indicate that both pre-service traumatic events and those experienced during employment are linked to a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation and attempts. The study underscores the critical need for targeted interventions to address trauma in military personnel.
Authors: Ioannis Angelakis, Josh Molina+ 4 more
, Charis Winter, Kat Ford, Neil Kitchiner, Karen Hughes
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the November 2024 survey covering: Healthy Life Expectancy, Awareness of health services, Vaccines, and a Violence prevention approach called Stop and Search.
The report explores trauma-informed training availability and needs of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) practitioners in Wales. ESOL learners come from diverse backgrounds, including refugees and asylum seekers who may have experienced complex trauma. It is essential that ESOL providers are trained to provide valuable support to these learners. The report presents findings from interviews with ESOL practitioners across Wales, exploring their training experiences and identifying additional training needs. The report’s recommendations focus on enhancing trauma-informed training availability and delivery in Wales. The report is designed for ESOL practitioners and policymakers interested in trauma-informed approaches to teaching.
This study examined relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), school experiences and adult health outcomes in a sample of the Welsh adult general population. It found ACEs and negative school experiences (having been bullied and lower sense of school belonging) were independently associated with poorer adult mental health. Experiencing both ACEs and negative school experiences exacerbated risks of poorer mental health. The study indicates the protective role that schools may play in fostering resilience among children who experience adversity in home settings.
Authors: Karen Hughes, Mark Bellis+ 5 more
, Kat Ford, Catherine Sharp, Joanne C. Hopkins, Rebecca Hill, Katie Cresswell
This paper presents secondary data analysis from Time to Talk Public Health.
This study explored perceived knowledge of menopause, awareness of menopausal symptoms, perceived negative impacts of menopause on females’ lives, and attitudes towards menopause. Most participants reported having low knowledge of the menopause, but were aware of ‘stereotypical’ symptoms such as hot flushes and changes to mood. This study highlights differences in knowledge and attitudes to menopause by different socio-demographics (e.g. age, gender). More evidence and understanding is needed on menopause, from both those who experience the menopause and those who do not experience the menopause, to support woman to have a more positive experience.
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the August 2024 survey covering: Cardiovascular health, Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service, travelling to health appointments, healthy weight, mealtimes and vaccines.
Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is recognised globally as a risk factor for health problems in later life. Awareness of ACEs and associated trauma is increasing within schools and educational settings, as well as the demand for supportive services to address needs. However, there is a lack of clear evidence for effective interventions which can be delivered by non-clinicians (e.g., the school staff themselves).
This systematic review of twenty-five studies revealed emerging evidence for non-clinician delivered interventions for enhancing mental health outcomes in school-age youth with exposure to ACEs; specifically, evidence for the effectiveness of CBT-based group and interventions involving caregivers.
This study explored the intergenerational continuity of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a male justice-involved population. 294 fathers aged 18-69 years in a Welsh prison completed a questionnaire exploring their exposure to ACEs. The questionnaire also measured the ACE exposure of each child they had fathered. The study found evidence for the intergenerational continuity of ACEs. Paternal ACE exposure was found to increase the risk of child ACE exposure, both to multiple ACEs and individual ACE types.
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the May 2024 survey covering: Carbon Monoxide; Vaccines; Infections; and Health Stigma.
Trust in health and other systems can affect uptake of public health advice and engagement with health services. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase individuals’ risks of ill health, thus understanding how ACEs affect trust in sources of health advice and other support is important to inform engagement with this vulnerable group. This study examined associations between ACEs and trust in health advice, other information and public services in a nationally representative sample of 1,880 adults in Wales.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful experiences during childhood such as child maltreatment and exposure to household difficulties including domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness and family members being in prison. This study analysed data collected from 1,880 adult residents across Wales. It found that those who reported multiple ACEs in their childhood were significantly more likely to perceive they would be unable to cope financially during the cost-of-living crisis, independent of factors including household income level, employment status and residential deprivation.
Authors: Karen Hughes, Mark Bellis+ 4 more
, Katie Cresswell, Rebecca Hill, Kat Ford, Joanne C. Hopkins
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer health outcomes yet their association with healthcare engagement remains relatively underexplored, particularly within the UK. This report presents the findings of an online survey with adults resident in Wales and England, developed to explore the association between ACEs and healthcare engagement, including comfort in the use of healthcare services.
Climate change is recognised as the biggest threat to global health of the 21st century and impacts on health and wellbeing through a range of factors. Due to this, the need to take action in order to protect population health and wellbeing is becoming ever more urgent.
In 2019, Public Health Wales carried out a comprehensive mixed-method Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of climate change. Unlike other risk assessments, it appraised the potential impact of climate change on health and inequalities in Wales through participatory workshops, stakeholder consultations, systematic literature reviews and case studies.
The HIA findings indicate potential impacts across the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. For example, air quality, excess heat/cold, flooding, economic productivity, infrastructure, and community resilience. A range of impacts were identified across population groups, settings, and geographical areas.
These findings can inform decision-makers to prepare for climate change plans and policies using an evidence-informed approach. The work has demonstrated the value of a HIA approach by mobilising a range of evidence through a transparent process, resulting in transferrable learning for others.
Authors: Liz Green, Kathryn Ashton+ 6 more
, Nerys Edmonds, Michael Fletcher, Sumina Azam, Karen Hughes, Phil Wheater, Mark A Bellis
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. Welsh residents were asked their views on a range of public health topics. The survey had a focus on topics relating to children’s health and well-being, including questions of specific relevance to parents. To increase participation of parents in the survey, a parent boost sample was recruited to take part in the survey in addition to the routine general population sample. The February survey focused on the following six topics: parenting information needs, perceptions of breastfeeding, role of education settings in child health, child behaviour strategies, mental well-being, and technology use with family and friends.
This short report presents a demographic breakdown of data from a national public survey on perceptions of climate change in Wales that was undertaken in 2021/22. The survey explored the population’s views about climate change, its relationship with health, their current climate friendly behaviours, their willingness to engage in action, and views on policy solutions. This report presents data from key survey questions broken down by age group, gender, deprivation quintile, location (rural or urban) and highest qualification. Findings could help tailor awareness campaigns and inform the targeting of key messages and action on climate change in Wales.
This paper uses a conceptual framework for the commercial determinants of health to map the potential commercial determinants of violence. It examines commercial practices directly linked with violence (e.g., firearms) and those that indirectly impact violence through the design and promotion of products; employment practices; and impacts on environment, poverty, and local resources. The paper aims to apply the framework to consider its utility for identifying risk and protective factors for violence, existing good practices, challenges, and opportunities for violence prevention.
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