Nearly four years ago we were talking about these problems, and still a lot of action has not been taken, Deputy Minister. I find it staggering looking at the latest figures, which show that less than two thirds of young people are receiving their assessments within 28 days and, on average, over the last six months, 48.5 per cent—less than one in two—were seen within this time period. In my own region in South Wales East, we see waiting times for specialist CAMHS is in a bad way, with over 14 per cent of young people waiting over four weeks for that first appointment. It is clear now that this isn't good enough and that our current services cannot deal with the pressure it's facing. We're now nearly three years since the joint thematic review in 2019, and more than two years after the fifth Senedd's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's report into section 135 and 136 detentions. The committee at this time noted that improving crisis care services, particularly out-of-hours services, is a key to both reducing the overall use of section 136 and ensuring those discharged from section 136 following assessment go on to achieve adequate care and support in their community. As waiting times get longer, more and more children and young people are needing crisis support, with 30 under-18s being detained under the Mental Health Act. Simply detaining children and young people won't provide the specialist support they need, so it's crucial that a 24-hour crisis service is made available so that they are treated in a safe and appropriate environment, something which, of course, is a debate on its own.

It is clear to me and others on these benches that proposed mental health crisis centres must be set up so that we can ensure people who have mental health issues have a safe place to be assessed and treated, simultaneously lowering the number of people who are detained and transferred.

Sadly, we also see this with autism waiting times. There are an estimated 30,000 or more autistic people in Wales, and although everyone has heard of autism, too few people understand what it's actually like to be autistic and how hard life can be if autistic people don't receive that right support. Thousands of children are waiting many months or even years for assessment. A recent study found that 28 per cent of autistic pupils in Wales felt their teachers understood autism, and new Office for National Statistics data suggests that just 29 per cent of autistic people are in any form of work. Without support, many autistic people develop mental health problems, sometimes to the point of crisis.

The time for talking is over. The longer we wait to tackle the true root and causes of the mental health crisis and its treatment, the worse the situation will get. We need clear action and regular updates in this Senedd, outlining just how this Government plan to tackle the crisis and if their methods are working.