Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 14 March 2018.
Well, this is about making our services as accessible as possible. I'm sure, within this building, you'll have seen the range of posters in a variety of locations highlighting that sometimes all you need to do is listen to someone who wants to talk. Part of the challenge is that not everyone wants to talk and not everyone recognises the challenge that they themselves have. The more that people do talk and are open, it helps others then to be able to do so as well. There is then the point that you're making, which is about how, if you think someone is struggling, you can actually get alongside that person to help them. And there are, sometimes, relationships that exist that allow you to do that and equally people that you are close to who, even if you think there's a challenge, may not react well to somebody saying, 'Can I help?'
Part of our challenge is to recognise that within workplaces and placing a high value on mental health and broader support. That's why mental health is one of the cross-Government themes within our 'Prosperity for All' programme, and it's also why I have a particular focus within that on mental health in workplaces. So, the Healthy Working Wales programme, which covers about a third of employees in the country already, looks at physical and mental health in the workplace as well, and tools to help equip employers to better support their employees. We're looking to improve and increase it. That's why it's part of the economic contract as well. So, we're looking to have employers who are going to have support from the Government to have a business here, who want to be good employers in all aspects, including looking after their workers' physical and mental health in the workplace.