6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Impact of migraine on children and young people

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:23 pm on 5 October 2022.

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Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru 3:23, 5 October 2022

(Translated)

I thank Mark Isherwood for that presentation to the motion. Of course, fair play to him—he's a very intelligent man; we've heard a great number of statistics relating to people who suffer from migraines. But there is a face for each of those statistics. There are lives being affected that lie behind all of those statistics, and I have loved ones who live with migraines, and who are therefore part of those statistics.

Now, I’m sure that we all hear people making light of migraines from time to time; maybe babbling to someone can bring on a migraine, as some people say, or when someone is suffering from a migraine, the advice is to sit in a corner and take a paracetamol. But it's not only a headache; a migraine is more than that. That does an injustice to the condition and to those who suffer from it, because it is so much more than just a headache, and as the motion states, it has a detrimental impact on people's daily lives, and the lives of children.

I had the privilege of hosting a drop-in event with the Migraine Trust recently—and I thank everyone who attended that event—and having an opportunity to talk to people who understand the subject and who specialise in the area, was eye-opening. From understanding the different things that can lead to a migraine, such as stress or even inconsistent eating patterns, to the fact, as Mark Isherwood said, that a migraine can be in the stomach, and that link between the brain and the stomach coming to the fore once again. But, unfortunately, not many people know why they are suffering from migraines, or what leads to an attack of the migraine. Understanding of the disease is very shallow in the scientific community, let alone among lay people, and if that understanding is so shallow in the specialised world, then how can we expect teachers or colleagues to recognize the symptoms and be able to ensure that steps are in place to help people who are having a migraine attack?

This motion is modest in nature, it's not asking for much. But it's an important first step in the right direction, which will help to increase understanding and awareness. Finally, could I therefore take the opportunity to thank the Migraine Trust for its work in the field and its willingness to collaborate with the Government, health boards and other authorities in order to achieve what it's asking for? Thank you very much.