Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:47 pm on 17 October 2018.
It cannot be right that one in three people who die by suicide have been in contact with mental health services in the year before their death. It goes beyond a doubt that we're failing to support some of our most vulnerable members of society and to provide effective support. Patients in Wales are consistently exposed to lengthy waits for assessment. Imagine the experience of approaching your GP and sharing some of your most intimate feelings only to be told to wait and endure this for a further 56 days before you have an initial assessment to determine whether you're ill enough to receive support. According to your latest statistics, this has been the reality for 528 people in Wales. This mentality of 'deteriorate before you can access treatment' would not take place in any other care pathway. So, why is that the case in mental health? We know that you rejected much of the children and young people committee's frankly damning report to see preventative mental health services improved. As you've mentioned, the health committee is currently undertaking a consultation on this issue. However, can you tell the Chamber today what exactly is your Government doing to strengthen access to preventative mental health services for people in Wales?