10. Short Debate: A Contract for Better Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:35 pm on 16 January 2019.

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Photo of Mohammad Asghar Mohammad Asghar Conservative 6:35, 16 January 2019

I'm thankful to Jack for giving me one minute of his time for this very important issue. Actually, it is a legal duty of the national health to protect our mental health, people, to make sure that local authorities and health boards improve and support people with mental health problems. It is a sad scenario that mental health problems—they can damage lives and weaken society. Three quarters of those with a mental health problem have no treatment support in Wales, which is a staggering figure, which Jack already mentioned. Billions of pounds have been spent on research and development. For those people who are in work, there's only minor research work, less than 5 per cent, and, for mental health, it's negligible—not much money. Could the Minister make sure that money is set aside to make sure that people in work—there is continuous development for their mental health in workplaces, not to get sacked or removed from their job?

Words beginning with P—between O and Q, P—are very—. There are very toxic words there, which mental health gives you—. It's through poverty, prison, pressure at work, post natal—so, words beginning with P are very, as he said, toxic in mental health, which people go through. Dementia is one, with 43,000 people suffering in Wales. I live with one, a relation in my family, and Minister it's a long subject we have to deal with, a mental health subject. I would be grateful if you'd consider that people in work should have not just support from their employers but also from the Government to make sure that mental health—when they go though certain problems, whether family or work, they should be cared for there and then and things should be sorted out. Thank you.