2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:42 pm on 14 September 2021.

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Photo of Jayne Bryant Jayne Bryant Labour 2:42, 14 September 2021

Trefnydd, could we have a statement on emergency mental health provision in Wales? A recent BBC article highlighted that the police are increasingly having to deal with calls from family and friends who fear a loved one may be suicidal and do not know where to turn. My local police force, Gwent Police, has seen the number of 999 and 101 calls increase by a third between January and July. However, more than half of the calls did not report crimes, but are often relating to other services. On average, between 6 per cent and 8 per cent of all contacts with Gwent Police involve concerns for someone's mental health. Gwent Police are adapting admirably, and have a mental health team and a social worker who sit alongside operators in the call room, and I know that Welsh Government have made some really positive announcements and investments on this subject over the summer, and there's some great work being trialled in the Swansea bay area, which includes a 111 mental health crisis helpline team, but the sooner we can improve services across Wales the better, so that individuals who are suffering find the best and most appropriate support.