Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 2 March 2021.
Thank you for that, First Minister. Now, 'unprecedented' is the word in terms of COVID—we've heard it many times. 'Unprecedented' is the word in terms of mental health also—we have unprecedented levels of mental anguish in our people today, with unbelievable strain and long waiting lists, and with mental health staff in emergency deployment elsewhere, and with their own health issues and isolating themselves. We can talk about workforce planning, but the mental health crisis is now. I have previously raised the need to use all hands on deck to tackle this huge challenge, and, in addition to what you've outlined, particularly to utilise independent counsellors and therapists—cognitive behavioural therapy and others—and bring them into the NHS to increase that capacity. We have professionally trained mental health professionals who are not directly employed by the NHS today. And the Minister, Eluned Morgan, has previously stated that she's open to the idea of working with health boards on this agenda. So, unprecedented times, creative solutions for now—do you agree?