11. 10. Debate: The ‘Together for Mental Health’ Delivery Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:45 pm on 5 July 2016.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 5:45, 5 July 2016

I agree with the closing comments there of Hannah Blythyn that this is not just a question of looking at mental health issues; it’s a question of looking at it in terms of the broader physical health and, indeed, workplace well-being and health as well. I think you hit the nail on the head there, Hannah.

It’s over three years now since this strategy was published, and warmly welcomed at the time, as with many strategies before and since, but with the caveat that we see real outcomes and improvements beyond the words. I was looking through the Mind briefing that was e-mailed to Assembly Members and I noticed that there is concern that the strategy does not give enough of a role to the voluntary sector. The third sector can play a crucial role in giving a voice to people with lived experience and enable them to be heard. I would go further, actually, and say that the voluntary sector is probably the most suited to raising the profile of mental health issues and reaching out to those communities across Wales. I think it has a nimbleness and a localism to it that you can’t really create in the traditional mainstream channels. Those channels have their place, but the voluntary sector has its particular place.