9. Short Debate: 'Listen to us. Support us.': The need to ensure access for young people to mental health support

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:09 pm on 3 November 2021.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 6:09, 3 November 2021

That Mind Cymru report says that 29 per cent of the young people questioned had tried to access mental health support during lockdown, and it goes on to say that more than 1 in 3 young people in Wales, 39 per cent, were unable to access the support that they sought, higher than the equivalent figure for England, which was around 23 per cent. That to me cuts to what I'm trying to do with this particular exercise. I've encouraged previous Ministers, and the current Minister, to ensure that the support is there, and I do so again today. We have to invest, of course, in services provided by the NHS directly, support services—some excellent services provided by charities and the third sector—ensure that the capacity is there to deal with what is undoubtedly a growing issue, but we also have to ensure that those pathways to the help that young people need are properly signposted. We have to make sure that young people are encouraged to seek that support, that they're taken by the hand on that hopefully very short journey to early intervention. And, of course, this is where the capacity issue comes in. We have to give them the confidence that when they knock on that door, it is answered and answered quickly. 

Mental health problems can take many, many forms. I spoke to Jo Whitfield of the eating disorder charity, Beat, this morning, and she said that we know that reaching out for help for an eating disorder takes a lot of courage. We also know that the sooner somebody accesses eating disorder treatment, the better their chances of recovery, and it's crucial that when somebody takes the brave step of asking for help, healthcare professionals understand how to support them, and they want to see investment in not just healthcare staff training, but education staff training, too. So, young people in need of support need to be encouraged to seek that support in the first place.