IN my last column I wrote about the cost of mental ill health to the Welsh economy - a staggering £7.2bn a year.

It is great this time to be able to talk about the development of legislation in Wales that will, if passed, significantly improve access to services for people in mental distress and reduce the financial impact of mental ill health.

The Government granted Wales law-making powers in relation to certain areas of mental health legislation in February.

Since then we and other mental health charities have been working closely with Welsh Assembly Government officials with the aim of turning these powers into a law that is fit for the 21st century.

We're not there yet - AMs are currently scrutinising the proposals. But, after giving evidence to the legislation committee considering the issue, we are hopeful.

The Assembly Government has previously tried to generate improvements in mental health services through strategy and regulation, but this has proved ineffective.

I believe that legislation is the only mechanism that can ensure all people in Wales receive the same access to high quality care, support and treatment in primary care and secondary care settings.

The primary care aspect of the legislation is what I am most excited about as this is an area that is seriously lacking in services at present.

There will be a duty for local health boards and local authorities to significantly step up access to assessments and services in primary care settings.

If the legislation takes the form we want it to this could include the necessary support for people to return to work rather than take extended periods of sickness; timely access to talking therapies; referrals for debt management to reduce the anxieties of living in and spiralling into debt; the resolution of housing problems such as harassment and threatened homelessness; support with diet, exercise and other physical health issues that better support mental wellbeing; self help and support groups.

The legislation will also bring with it important improvements to how secondary care services are provided and critical access to advocacy.

I'm in no doubt that legislation will bring about important improvements to the current level of mental health services in Wales.

We at Gofal and our colleagues in other mental health organisations believe that the current proposals need to be strengthened to maximise the impact of the legislation and we are hoping the evidence we have all given is taken heed of.

It is obvious that if we can deliver high quality, timely interventions to all people in mental distress then the population of Wales will be supported to be mentally healthier.

The knock-on effect of this would be vast. Less people getting seriously ill, more people supported to stay well and high quality timely interventions available when people do get ill.

A mentally healthy Wales can only have a positive impact on the economy and prosperity of Wales.

In these uncertain political and economic times it is great to feel that Wales is leading the way in delivering mental health legislation that really is fit for this century and for the people of this country.

Ewan Hilton is executive director of mental health charity Gofal Cymru. To contact him email reply@gofalcymru.org.uk