I would like to thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this important debate, allowing us to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. With one in eight people in Wales currently seeking medical help for mental illness and an estimated one in four of us experiencing mental health problems at some point during our lifetimes, it’s clear that we need to give mental health a high priority.

It was great to see so many people taking to social media on Monday to help reduce the stigma that is still attached to mental illness. It is truly disturbing that, in the twenty-first century, people suffering with poor mental health have to also deal with stigma, harassment and a total lack of understanding. A survey undertaken by Time to Change found that stigma and discrimination is all pervasive, with close to nine out of 10 service users reporting its negative impact on their lives. Two thirds have stopped doing things because of stigma and two thirds have stopped doing things because of the fear of stigma and discrimination. How often have we heard people suffering from depression being told to, ‘Man up’ or that they needed to get over themselves, or pull themselves together? This is not acceptable. These attitudes prevent people suffering from mental ill health from speaking out or even seeking help. Far too many people are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless as a result of their mental health issues. We all have a part to play in making it easier for people with health problems to make friends, to work and lead an absolutely full life.

In addition to tackling stigma and discrimination, we have to ensure that any suffering from mental health problems have timely access to treatment. Early access to talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy is proven to improve recovery and reduce the need for more acute services. Mind recommend that the maximum waiting time from referral to first treatment should be 28 days, and when someone presents with a mental health emergency, the wait must be shorter.

Of course, if we are to improve mental health services we must ensure that the correct funding is in place. Mental health problems account for around a quarter of all health problems, yet we are spending 11.4 per cent of the NHS Wales budget on mental health. In England, where the mental health budget is not ring-fenced, they are spending 11.9 per cent of the NHS budget on mental health. One local health board, Aneurin Bevan, routinely spends over 17 per cent more than its ring-fenced allocation. PricewaterhouseCoopers, in their review of the financial ring-fencing arrangements for mental health services in Wales, state that the ring-fenced allocation is not based on a robust assessment of healthcare needs. The Welsh Government needs to change the ring-fencing arrangements as a matter of priority.

I would like to thank Plaid Cymru for giving us this opportunity to hold this debate. I welcome and support their call to educate young people about mental health issues. However, we cannot support the devolution of employment law and will therefore be supporting the Welsh Conservative amendment. Thank you.