Mental Health Support

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 2 March 2021.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 1:42, 2 March 2021

First Minister, two weeks ago we were pleased to host a Facebook live event in the Bridgend and Ogmore area, under the title of 'Mental Health—It's Good to Talk', and it was attended, I'm delighted to say, by the Minister with responsibility for mental health, but also by Megan from the Bridgend Youth Council, Mental Health Matters, local Men's Sheds and many other organisations and individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges as well. Amongst the many issues raised, two themes were prominent. The first was the need for continuing to ramp up overall investment in mental health support and services from the upstream investment, which you've talked about, First Minister, through to therapies and through to the acute services. And the second was the need for investment in perinatal mental health for both parents, something raised not least by Ogmore Vale campaigner Mark Williams. And I thank the Minister, by the way, for inviting Mark along to a subsequent meeting with others, within days, to discuss this. So, First Minister, can I ask you what commitment can you give to continuing to boost the investment in mental health support and services across the piste and to the perinatal mental health of both parents, and also to helping remove the stigma over mental health issues—letting people know it really is good to talk about mental health?