4. How does the Welsh Government support the mental health of people who are suffering trauma as a result of the climate and nature crisis? OQ56977

Llywydd, for those affected by the climate emergency, the Welsh Government aims to provide opportunities to take collective action that makes a difference. For example, our programme of events around COP26 is designed to give hope to those who feel overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis.

Thank you, First Minister. You will be aware, I'm sure, that there have been floods again overnight, affecting businesses and homes in my region. Indeed, I was out this morning looking at the damage in Pontypridd, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin. The trauma, not to mention the destruction, is clear, and even in those area that weren't impacted last night but suffered last year, such as Clydach Terrace in Ynysybwl, Oxford Street in Nantgarw, I know from the tens of messages that I received overnight that they hadn't slept at all last night. You'll be aware that I'm continuing to campaign for an independent inquiry into flooding in 2020. Last night, once again, proves the need for this, but even without that, what are you going to do to ensure greater support for those who've suffered flooding in terms of their mental health and the clear trauma that they continue to suffer? 

Llywydd, I have seen some feedback from those working on the front line in Pontypridd and across RCT following the heavy rain that we experienced last night, and we are still waiting for updates.

Generally speaking, to turn to your question, we have taken action to strengthen trauma services in Wales, including in the circumstances described by the Member. Traumatic Stress Wales has received over £1 million in funding this financial year. This will help to ensure that workers in those services that come into contact with people in traumatic circumstances do have the skills and training necessary to respond in the best possible way.

Specifically, and having heard what the Member said about Ynysybwl, I do know that the constituency Member for the area wrote to the Minister Julie James on these issues in July. The Member received a response explaining the urgent actions that have been put in place in order to support those people who were impacted by the flooding, as well as the longer term actions that are being put in place by Natural Resources Wales. 

First Minister, many people, including myself, are rightly concerned about the health of our planet and the mental health of our young people. I remember when people of my age in school were shown a documentary on Al Gore predicting a doomsday scenario unless radical changes were made, and the world as we know it would be over in 2006. I'm glad to stay we're still here. However, this is nothing compared to what children are now being shown on tv and social media. They are being far more politicised on the topic than my generation ever were. Whilst our children need to be aware of climate change and the climate crisis, we have a duty to ensure this is done in a sensitive way to protect their mental health. I want the next generation to be given a positive message on what steps we can take, and have a positive impact on protecting the environment. What we don't want to do is scare young people and make them feel helpless or resent the last generation. So, First Minister, do you think there is a better way we can educate the young children of Wales on climate change in a more sensitive way that does not have a negative impact on the mental health of young people, but works towards addressing the climate challenges we all face? Diolch, Llywydd.

Llywydd, I agree with this point that the Member raised, that we must all find ways of helping those people who do feel overwhelmed by the challenge of climate change to find things that they can do that make a difference, because that is what gives people hope when they feel hopeless, feeling that there is something that they can do that, when you add it up with everything else that others are doing, genuinely can make an impact.

We've got good reason for doing that here in Wales. We will know that when the Senedd came into being, Wales had some of the lowest recycling rates around the world. Today, we have the third-best rates around the world. When I'm talking to young people, I say to them, 'There is an example of the way a difference can be made. You shouldn't feel hopeless about the future. It's right to feel concerned, but if we do the right things and if we act together, then we can make a difference.'

Now, when we have our own climate week, Wales Climate Week, in November, we will have a series of activities that young people in particular will be able to take part in. It's all focused on those things that we need to do today, in the way that the leader of opposition, the spokesperson for the opposition—pardon me—today led off with in his questions: those things we need to do in transport, in residential buildings, in the circular economy, in the way that we deal with environmental risks. And if we do it in that way, saying to our young people that provided we do the right things and provided we do them together then there is proper hope for the future, then I think we can help to overcome some of the feelings that the Member referred to.