Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 22 June 2021.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 1:56, 22 June 2021

And of course we need to refer people to the right kind of support, but we can't play down the importance of specialist CAMHS services either. And there was an increase in referrals in the first four months of this year compared to last year. But the Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee did a lot of work on the impact of the pandemic, and in particular highlighted this problem of the missing middle—the significant number of children and young people who need mental health advice and support but who may not need acute or specialist services. So, I agree with the First Minister on that. 

You'll know that Plaid Cymru has put forward proposals for a network of walk-in centres across Wales, offering free and confidential mental health advice and support for young people. Now, First Minister, do you agree that such a network really could—now, in particular, after the pandemic, perhaps—offer a lifeline to the thousands of young people currently caught in that missing middle? And if so, would you and your officials meet with me to discuss pursuing that proposal further?