The Mental Health and Well-Being of Young People

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 2 December 2020.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 2:35, 2 December 2020

Well, diolch, Vikki. I think we've got to be really clear that not all mental health issues are medical issues. There are many issues that are due to social problems, people suffering problems in relationships, and I think what we need to do is to make sure that we intervene very early, as you're suggesting, to make sure that young people have the capacity to deal with those difficult situations. And that doesn't necessarily mean a medical intervention, which is why that whole-school approach, I think, is the right way to go about this. 

You'll be aware that the young person's mental health toolkit has now been published on Hwb, and that really gives support to young people to make sure that they can really focus in on the issues that matter to them—anxiety, low mood, bereavement, even coronavirus information. And I think it's really important also for us to make sure that they're aware of the helplines that are available, the C.A.L.L. helpline is something that of course is there, but also now, for those who are over 16, we have this SilverCloud, which is an online approach to cognitive behavioural therapy, and I do hope that people will use the opportunity. Maybe sometimes, they don't want people to know about their issues, and they can do that in a way that doesn't mean that they have to attract the attention of their teachers. They can do it quietly and privately, and that option is now available to them as well.