Mental Health Services in Cynon Valley

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:11 pm on 21 November 2017.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 2:11, 21 November 2017

Yes. Of course, every secondary school has a school counsellor, but there is a reluctance amongst some to go and see that counsellor for fear that others will find out. I think that is an issue that—. Well, I'm aware that that's an issue for some teenagers. So, being able to extend the reach of CAMHS beyond its traditional areas to look at preventative work, I think, is hugely important. Given the pressures that teenagers are under—. When I was a teenager, what happened at school didn't follow you home at night; it does now—through social media. I've seen it with my own eyes with my own children, the kind of stuff that is out there on social media. That's why, of course, it's so important that we have in place a system that didn't exist when I was in school, but is needed now for many teenagers, to provide them with the support that they need, both in school and outside.