3. How is the Welsh Government working to improve access to mental health services in Cynon Valley? OQ59104

Thank you. We continue to provide significant and sustained funding to support the provision of mental health services across the whole of Wales. In addition to its mental health ring-fenced allocation, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has received an additional £3.3 million of recurrent mental health funding this year to continue to improve mental health support. 

Thank you, Trefnydd. Ensuring people can access mental health services in a timely manner is important for our NHS, vital for people in need, and can even save lives. That's why I'm really pleased at the roll out of the '111 press 2' telephone service to access urgent mental health support. With the intention that this will be introduced to all health board areas in Wales by the end of March, what plans does Welsh Government have to raise awareness of this crucial service?  

Thank you. I absolutely agree with you; I think this is an excellent initiative, and all health boards across Wales are at different phases of the implementation now, but we are looking towards having that 24/7 coverage right across Wales by the end of this financial year. I know officials are working with colleagues in 111 to develop marketing materials for preparation for the national launch. Health boards have been raising awareness locally; I know myself as a Member of the Senedd and I'm sure others have been raising it on our social media profiles too, and I think that's important also. There will be much more of a national awareness launch made when all health boards are in the same position by April.  

I think what's been really pleasing to see is that partners have welcomed this service, and I think what it does show is that the majority of callers to this number won't need referral to NHS mental health services following the intervention of a mental health practitioner to de-escalate their distress, for instance, they might need other types of support, and I think it's really important that it's the right access of support they're getting.

I'd like to thank the representative for Cynon Valley for raising this important issue. Over the last 40 years in Wales, the number of female suicides per 100,000 of the population has dropped almost 50 per cent, from nine to five. For males, unfortunately, the number has increased, from 19 per 100,000 to 21 per 100,000, and thus men are therefore over four times more likely to commit suicide than women. As the Minister will know, there are links between deprivation and suicide, where there are almost twice as many suicides for those living in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived, and Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf, both within the region I represent, have the two highest concentrations of deprived areas in Wales. Therefore, Minister, what specific action is the Welsh Government taking to provide targeted support for males suffering from mental health issues in the most deprived areas within Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf? Thank you.

Thank you. Well, the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being has been working closely with all the health boards to make sure additional funding has been targeted to support the services to which you refer. We've also worked with the police and other emergency services to make sure that the real-time suicide surveillance system in Wales is available. It's provided much more rapid access to information about probable suicides, for instance, and that is really being used to strengthen our preventative work.