7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Eating disorders

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:28 pm on 2 March 2022.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 5:28, 2 March 2022

(Translated)

There have been some wise comments made from Labour and Conservative benches. I will frame my remaining comments around what I was told by one sufferer of an eating disorder. You will know that I've been doing work recently, speaking to young people about access to mental health services more generally. This individual had waited 12 months to start a series of support sessions for eating disorders, and I appreciated and could identify in this context with the comments made by the Member for Cardiff Central, who said that we shouldn't allow there to be a wrong door, and people shouldn't have to explain themselves time and time again as this young person had to do: 'I've just been discharged from primary mental health services after waiting 12 months for it. I've only had eight to 10 sessions. I have learnt a little, but I'm still struggling and I'm alone now. If I want further care, then I have to apply again through my GP and wait a very long time again.' Those are her comments. It's not acceptable within the current frameworks that our young people, and people of all ages, feel that those are the kinds of barriers facing them. We do have to have clear models in place to provide that early intervention. She goes on: 'It is a mental health problem.' And I think of Sioned's comments in this context in terms of social media and social pressures in terms of images. 'Because of the society we live in now, behaviours around eating disorders are normalised, even complimented.' Those were the comments of this young person. But it is a mental health problem, and things do have to be taken more seriously.

When one thinks that an illness that is a burden on their lives isn't taken seriously, that's also a message for us that there may be something wrong with the frameworks that we're working within. So, in order for everyone to get the help that they need as swiftly as they need it, then we must give more attention to getting the right systems in place.

I'm asking you today to support the Plaid Cymru motion that is very specific in what it requests. We support amendment 2 too that recommends targets so we can identify the milestones as we reach them. As I said, an agreement on the need to do things better in and of itself doesn't mean that we have the road map as to how we get to that point. So, support this motion today as a statement that we are serious about moving towards the kind of provision that the population of Wales needs.