Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Before I begin, I would like to make the Chamber aware that I would like to be giving one minute of my time each to David Melding, Mohammad Asghar and my colleague Rhianon Passmore.

I'm delighted to lead this short debate today on mental health within the workplace, particularly in light of the Welsh Government's recently published economic contract. I'd like to thank the Minister for Economy and Transport for all his hard work on that contract, and say that I hope we can continue to work together closely on the issue of mental health. I also hope that I can work with the Minister for Health and Social Services on this issue as well.

Members will know that improving mental health support is something very close to my heart, and this short debate is another opportunity to discuss this issue and express my feelings towards this issue. But it's also a good opportunity to rightly highlight the work of the Where's Your Head At? campaign—a campaign that is aiming to ensure that all employers look after the well-being of their workforce. Specifically, it is asking to make it compulsory to have a mental health first-aider at work.

Now, I agree with that call, and it's why I thank a leading figure of that campaign, Natasha Devon MBE, for all her work so far. Her campaign has been widely supported across the UK, with over 200,000 signatories—MPs from across political parties, as well as over 50 UK business leaders. Supporting such a campaign and making change a reality here in Wales makes absolute sense, and it is the right thing to do. It makes sense from both a human and financial perspective to ensure that we protect mental health within the workplace the same way we protect physical health.

Each year, workplace mental health issues cost the UK economy almost £35 billion, with 15.4 million working days lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. But the cost is not just financial. Left untreated, mental ill health impacts a person's relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and ultimately it impacts the quality of their own life. A major study into workplace well-being by the Mind charity found that more than half of the people surveyed had experienced poor mental health within their current job. 

The economic contract is one of the key policies within the Welsh Government's economic action plan, and, under the contract, businesses seeking Government support will need to commit to the principle of growth, fair work, reducing carbon footprint, health, skills and learning within the workplace. So, I'm particularly pleased that mental health is a priority within the economic contract and that the Government will support different initiatives.

But, just as people who suffer mental health illness want concrete support, I want concrete change and solutions. I believe this campaign has an important part to play and would urge the Welsh Government to support fully the Where's Your Head? campaign, which will be debated in the UK Parliament, and for the Welsh Government to consider all options as to what can be done to ensure that we make provision for mental health first aid, as they do physical first aid, in the workplace, both in the public and private sector.

Employers have a duty of care to their staff, and, whilst some employers are at the forefront of change, we cannot afford to leave anyone behind here in Wales or the UK. I pay tribute to Airbus in my own constituency and Jayne Bryant's constituency, who I know do a lot of work in this area, and I'd also like to pay tribute to my own union, and thank them, Unite the union, for all the work that they do in providing members with support and training around mental health and this particular issue.

Now, we need to share best practice, but we also need to ensure that other employers equalise their number of mental health first aiders. Cost cannot be a reason for objections, because having mental health first aiders in the workplace will lead to savings in the long-term future. I want Wales, and I want the Welsh Government, to lead the way on this issue. If we succeed here in Wales, others will follow and others will succeed too.

Deputy Llywydd, a letter recently was sent to the UK Prime Minister, and it rightly said that success will ensure employees across the UK can access a trained member of staff and they will be able to receive initial support and guidance if they are dealing with a mental health issue at work. Success will ensure that every employee has the right to a mentally healthy environment—a mentally healthy work environment. And I think, from the cross-party support that we have here this evening, it's clear that we all in this Assembly Chamber want to succeed in this issue.

So, finally, Deputy Llywydd, I'd like to just mention what success would look like to me. To me, success will mean that we can finally break the stigma of mental health in the workplace and we can make it clear that it is okay not to be okay. And if we do push forward with this campaign we will be heading towards a world of good mental health for all. Diolch.