4. Will the Commission make a statement on the mental health support that is available to Senedd employees? OQ57045

Thank you, Jack, for your question. The Senedd Commission takes the well-being of Senedd Commission staff very seriously. It's been an area of particular focus throughout the pandemic when we've monitored mental well-being through frequent surveys and maintained regular contact with staff. There is an onsite occupational health professional who can provide a confidential source of support and referral to other services, and there's an employee assistance service providing advice and guidance to support mental well-being, including counselling if appropriate. That service is also available for Members and their staff. The Commission has established a mental well-being network that includes trained mental health first-aiders.

Thank you very much for that answer, Commissioner. It was just last Wednesday when I raised, through a number of media outlets, the issue of social media abuse, and it feels like aggression and violence are increasingly part of politics. This isn't right. It's certainly not the style of kinder politics that I wish to see, and many others in this Chamber wish to see. It was last Friday when we saw the horrific attack—and our thoughts are with the family and friends and colleagues of Sir David Amess, of course—and then it was just yesterday when we saw Michael Gove abused by an aggressive mob in the street. I send my warmest regards to him, and I do wish him well. But it's not just politicians who receive this abuse or aggression. Our staff are often the ones to read it and receive it, and this clearly has a toll on their mental health and well-being. So, can I ask you, Commissioner, what further support could be put in place to help our staff, to keep them safe, and to help them recover afterwards?

Thank you for that question. You're absolutely right; from day one of coming here you've called for a kinder politics, and you're right to do that.

In terms of the Commission, we do have a very long-term focus on mental well-being and reducing the perceived stigma. Employees are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, and I think that is hugely important. Apart from all the other things that are done here, there's a regular pulse survey to monitor well-being rather than just attendance, which allows real-time responses by the executive board. Because very often, illness is monitored by people either being in a room or on a monitor or not, but that won't tell you anything about what's happening to the individual.

I think, in terms of going forward, there is a clear need, in my opinion—and I'm sure it'll be shared by others—to monitor what is being said online, and that if people are actually being directly approached or affected, for them to know that there is an avenue here in the Senedd for them to talk about that. I think overall we have to take responsibility ourselves in the way that we communicate—there's no question about that, either. But you're right—our staff usually are the first people to see the hatred and the vitriol, and that is not part of their role. So, moving forward, I'd be very happy to work with you, Jack, to take this to where it needs to be, and that's to resolve or at least limit some of this hatred. Thank you.

As we've heard, since Jack tabled this question it has become even more pertinent considering the events of last Friday. So much support has been given to us as Members since last week in order to discuss safety, but members of staff—Commission staff, as well as Members' staff, too—also have to cope with this stress and fear, and have to deal with, as Jack has said, online threats of violence, trolling and bullying. But also, in terms of our offices, what additional support can be given, please, to our members of staff to help them cope? I heard what you said, Commissioner, to Jack in terms of online safety, but safety in our offices as well, please.

You're absolutely right—there is significant support since last Friday; it's been fast-tracked, and is available to all Members and their staff here in the Senedd. They've made themselves readily available both in person and online. I think it's important that people take things seriously. Because I all too often hear people say, 'Well, I had this or that, but I didn't take it seriously'. Threats have to be taken seriously, and then they can be dealt with accordingly. So, that's the first message I'd like to send to Members and staff. But there is a dedicated health and well-being portal available, which is online, and there are self-help tips and adjustments that you can make. But I think perhaps what we really need here is some training on how to avoid the pitfalls and how to recognise, I think, for ourselves and our staff, what we can do—besides the 'delete' button, that is—to keep ourselves safe. I thank you for your question. 

Diolch, Joyce, and I apologise for giving you the wrong surname earlier on. The translator was right.