Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:46 pm on 6 November 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 1:46, 6 November 2018

Well, I would argue that it is. We've seen huge improvements, for example, in ensuring access to mental health for children and for adolescents, and also emphasis made on ensuring that counselling is available rather than clinical intervention at an earlier stage. We have the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, of course, which I would argue is a unique piece of legislation that improves access to, and delivery of, mental health services. It's driven improvement since its implementation in 2010, it does provide effective and helpful services at an early stage through the local primary mental health support service, and it ensures that those in need of specialist services receive the highest quality of care and treatment.

There are many other things I could refer to, of course, such as, for example, the 'Talk to me 2' strategy to help prevent suicide and self-harm. That strategy, of course, is overseen by a national advisory group. So, I would argue, in fact, that services in Wales have much improved over the years, and that's recognised by the amount of money that we've invested in mental health.