I really do believe that suicide prevention is everybody's business and everybody's opportunity. I'd love to speak about every recommendation but, given the time constraints, I will focus on two areas. The first is particularly close to my heart—young suicide and the overlap between this report and the Children, Young People and Education Committee's 'Mind over matter' report, because the two are inextricably linked. Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 19. More than 200 children die by suicide every year in the UK. In 2017, 226 children died by suicide. That is a national scandal. As Papyrus told our inquiry, if Ebola or HIV or any other disease was killing 200 schoolchildren a year, we would be throwing millions of pounds at it. I agree. The findings of 'Mind over matter’ were clear. The urgent challenge now lies at the preventative end of the pathway, with emotional well-being, resilience and early intervention.

The parable of the river feels more relevant now than ever. I’m sure some of you know it, but to summarise: one night, villagers were sitting by their riverbank, about to eat, when one villager noticed a young child floating upside down and drifting down the river. Several villagers jumped up, dived in and tried to rescue the child. It was too late. A short while later, another young child was noticed, coughing and screaming as it struggled to stay afloat. This time, the villagers were luckier and the child, although bruised and battered, lived. This turn of events continued, and the frequency with which the villagers had to rescue children from the river increased—sometimes successful, but not always guaranteed. Soon all the resources and people power of the village were directed at saving as many children as they could. This occupied the villagers constantly, and other endeavours that they'd previously pursued had to be forgotten. This was accepted because it was a worthy cause. One day, two villagers began to walk away from the village, heading upstream. They were questioned, 'Where are you going? We need you here to help save the children.' The villagers replied, 'We’re going upstream to find out why those children have ended up in the river in the first place.'

That is absolutely where I believe we need to be—upstream, before young people fall in that river in the first place. That’s why I am delighted that 'Everybody’s Business' wholeheartedly endorses the recommendations in 'Mind over matter', which aim to do just that. It is the first time that one committee report has fully endorsed and supported another in this way, and I'd like to thank Dai Lloyd for the collegiate way that he leads the health committee and for the constructive partnership that has developed between our two committees on the fundamental issue of our nation’s mental health. Because it is not just young people who will benefit from the recommendations of 'Mind over matter'—they set out a road map for developing resilience for all.

We've heard today about the scale of the challenge with male suicide. It is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 45. It is without any shadow of a doubt a public health emergency. Yet, most men who die by suicide have no previous contact with mental health services before their death. So, how do we reach them? With half of all mental health problems beginning in childhood, Samaritans Cymru have told us that developing resilience and early intervention in schools has a major role to play in preventing male suicide. I agree.

Myself and other committee members will continue to hold Welsh Government’s feet to the fire on progress with 'Mind over matter'. But in the meantime, we still need to pull young people from the river. So, I was really disappointed that the recommendations made in 'Mind over matter' and repeated, in full, nearly a year later in this report on the need to issue urgent guidance to schools on talking about suicide, are only accepted in principle again. 

Now, I really welcome the work that has been done to prepare guidance for schools by the brilliant Professor Ann John, but I am deeply concerned that Welsh Government has not made any commitment to making this guidance statutory. Talking about suicide does not cause suicide. Talking about suicide saves lives. Every day lost on this is a day when we could potentially see another child die by suicide as, indeed, we have done since 'Mind over matter' was published. It simply cannot wait until we have implemented the other reforms.

To lose someone you love to suicide is a uniquely devastating loss. People bereaved by suicide are themselves at much higher risk of themselves dying by suicide. So, I was disappointed that recommendation 15 on support for those bereaved by suicide was only accepted in principle. During the inquiry, we met a group of relatives at the Jacob Abraham Foundation, all of whom had lost sons, husbands, fathers to suicide. One lady had lost her two sons to suicide—a heartbreaking reminder of the risk that suicide bereavement poses. Shockingly, not one of those families had received any specialist support, apart from the support offered by the foundation, which receives no statutory funds and is operating on a hand-to-mouth basis. Minister, I don’t need another review to tell me that suicide bereavement support in Wales is woefully inadequate and that we need to address it urgently.

In conclusion, I know that both the health committee and my committee are asking a lot of Government on mental health, and I make no apologies for that. I also acknowledge both this Minister and the Minister for Education's commitment to the new task and finish group to deliver the 'Mind over matter' recommendations. Welsh Government regularly reminds us that mental health is a priority in 'Prosperity for All', but we are still not seeing sufficient evidence of that on the ground. It is time for Welsh Government to make parity between mental and physical health a reality in Wales.