Meetings

Mental health inequalities

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

 

 

Meeting: 16/07/2025 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding HMP/YOI Parc

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.7.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 08/02/2024 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 4)

4 Update from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing to the Chair regarding the Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report: Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee noted the update.

Meeting: 06/12/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Response from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing to the Chair, Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding the ongoing work relating to the mental health of children and young people

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.2 The Committed noted the response.

Meeting: 06/12/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from Chair, Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding the ongoing work relating to the mental health of children and young people

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committed noted the letter.

Meeting: 14/06/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 7)

7 Letter from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding the Fifth Senedd Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's inquiry into suicide prevention

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.9 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Plenary (Item 5)

Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report - Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales

NDM8249 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales’, laid on 19 December 2022.

The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 25 April 2023.

Supporting documents

Inequalities in mental health online advisory group: Summary of engagement findings – April 2023

Minutes:

The item started at 15.06

NDM8249 Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales’, laid on 19 December 2022.

The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 25 April 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 27/04/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 8)

8 Letter from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding consideration of a national children's counselling service

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

8.6 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 27/04/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Mental health inequalities: Welsh Government response

Paper 4: Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report

Paper 5: Research brief

Paper 6: Online advisory group: summary of views

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee discussed the Welsh Government’s response and the summary of views from the online advisory group.

3.2 The Committee agreed to publish the summary of views from the online advisory group.

Meeting: 27/04/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 8)

8 Letter to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding consideration of a national children's counselling service

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

8.5 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from the Children, Young People and Education Committee regarding medication for mental health concerns

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.6 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Response from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing to the Committee's report: Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 02/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 8)

8 Mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 26/01/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding consideration of a national children’s counselling service

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.6 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 12/01/2023 - Local Government and Housing Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to the Chairs of the Children, Young People and Education; Equality and Social Justice; and Local Government and Housing Committees in relation to mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.6.a The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to the Chairs of the Children, Young People and Education; Equality and Social Justice; and Local Government and Housing Committees in relation to mental health inequalities.

Meeting: 11/01/2023 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee regarding the cost of living pressures and the Young Persons Guarantee

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 30/11/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 8)

8 Mental Health Inequalities - consideration of draft report

Paper 4 - Mental health inequalities: report publication

Paper 5 - Draft report

Paper 6 - Mental health inequalities online advisory group: summary of engagement findings

Supporting documents:

  • Mental health inequalities: report publication
  • Draft report
  • Mental health inequalities online advisory group: summary of engagement findings

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee considered the draft report and agreed to consider further amendments by email.

Meeting: 30/11/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding Fifth Senedd Committee recommendations relating to mental health and wellbeing

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.4 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 26/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 5)

5 Mental health inequalities: key issues

Paper 3 – Mental health inequalities: key issues

Paper 4 – Inequalities in mental health online advisory group: Meeting two - Engagement findings

Paper 5 – Mental health inequalities inquiry: Welsh Youth Parliament focus group

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee agreed the key issues to the Mental health inequalities.

Meeting: 19/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 4)

4 Letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 13/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 4)

4 Letter from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding perinatal mental health

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.2 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 13/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 4)

4 Letter to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding Fifth Senedd Committee recommendations relating to mental health and wellbeing

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 06/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Draft Mental Health Bill

 

Paper 2 – Draft letter

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee agreed to write to the UK Parliament Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill.

 

Meeting: 06/10/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter from the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted the letter.

 

Meeting: 28/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 4)

Mental health inequalities: Consideration of evidence

Minutes:

4.1 Members considered the evidence received.

Meeting: 28/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities: Evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Deputy Minister for Social Services

 

Lynne Neagle MS, Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Tracey Breheny, Deputy Director of Mental Health & Vulnerable Groups – Welsh Government

Ed Wilson, Deputy Director, Public Health, Improvements & Inequalities – Welsh Government

Julie Annetts, Head of Autism Policy, Welsh Government

 

Research brief

Paper 1 – Online advisory group: meeting one

Paper 2 – Mental health inequalities: Engagement summary: Workforce

Paper 3 – Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Deputy Minister for Social Services, and Welsh Government officials.

2.2 The Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing agreed to provide the Committee with an update on the Welsh Government’s position on the extension of section 25B of the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 to mental health inpatient settings.

2.3 The Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing agreed to provide the Committee with an update on the development and implementation of the mental health core data set.

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Metal health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter from Health Education and Improvement Wales and Social Care Wales regarding their joint mental health workforce plan

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 

6.26  The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter from the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding Fifth Senedd Committee recommendations relating to suicide prevention

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 

6.20  The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter to Health Education and Improvement Wales and Social Care Wales regarding their joint mental health workforce plan

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 

6.25  The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Letter to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding Fifth Senedd Committee recommendations relating to mental health and wellbeing

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 

6.19  The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 06/07/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Mental health inequalities: consideration of evidence

Paper 5 – mental health inequalities inquiry: next steps

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received and agreed next steps for the inquiry.

 

Meeting: 06/07/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with the secondary care sector

Professor Keith Lloyd, Royal College of Psychiatrists

 

Paper 3 - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Paper 4 - Royal College of Psychiatrists

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee received evidence from a representative of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

3.2 Professor Lloyd agreed to write to the Committee to: share existing evidence on ethnic minority communities and the Mental Health Act; provide suggestions of actions that Welsh Government or other decision makers could take to address mental health inequalities relating to older people, people with hearing loss, people with neurodivergent conditions, and other disadvantaged groups; and views on Greater Good, an online resource established to share best practice with regard to mental health and well-being by the University of Berkley, California.

Meeting: 06/07/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with the primary care sector

Dr Julie Keely, Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners South West Wales Faculty and the Royal College of General Practitioners’ representative on the Royal Colleges Mental Health Expert Advisory Group

Professor Euan Hails, Royal College of Nursing Wales Board Member

Lisa Turnbull, Policy, Parliamentary and Public Affairs Manager – Royal College of Nursing Wales

 

Research brief

Paper 1 – Royal College of General Practitioners Wales
Paper 2 – Royal College Mental Health Expert Advisory Group Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives of the primary care sector.

Meeting: 29/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Response from Professor Kirby regarding follow up questions after the mental health inequalities inquiry evidence session on 8 June 2022

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.4 The Committee noted the response.

Meeting: 29/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Response from Professor Thapar regarding follow up questions after the mental health inequalities inquiry evidence session on 8 June 2022

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.5 The Committee noted the response.

Meeting: 29/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from the Chair to Professors Kirby and Thapar with follow up questions after the mental health inequalities inquiry evidence session on 8 June 2022

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.3 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 29/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from the Chair to Public Health Wales with follow up questions after the mental health inequalities inquiry evidence session on 19 May 2022

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.10 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 29/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Response from Public Health Wales regarding follow up questions after the mental health inequalities inquiry evidence session on 19 May 2022

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.11 The Committee noted the response.

Meeting: 23/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 1.)

1. Committee visit

The Committee is undertaking an external visit related to its inquiry into mental health inequalities.

 

 

Paper 1 – Members’ brief

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 08/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 5)

Mental health inequalities: consideration of evidence

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Meeting: 08/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Additional information from Professor Rob Poole, Centre for Mental Health and Society at Bangor University following the evidence session on 4 May

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.2 The Committee noted the additional information.

Meeting: 08/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with academics

Professor Amanda Kirby, Chair - ADHD Foundation

Professor Anita Thapar, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences – Cardiff University


Information pack for participants
Research brief
Paper 1 – ADHD Foundation

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Professor Amanda Kirby and Professor Anita Thapar.

Meeting: 08/06/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 1.)

1. Mental health inequalities: informal stakeholder engagement event (private)

Information pack for participants

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 9)

Mental health inequalities: consideration of evidence

Minutes:

9.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 7)

7 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with Professor Sir Sam Everington

Professor Sir Sam Everington

 

 

Paper 5 - Professor Sir Sam Everington

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 The Committee received evidence from Professor Sir Sam Everington.

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with Public Health Wales

Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive – Public Health Wales

Julie Bishop, Director of Health Improvement – Public Health Wales

Joanne Hopkins - Programme Director for ACEs, Criminal Justice and Violence Prevention – Public Health Wales

 

Paper 1 – Public Health Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives of Public Health Wales.

3.2 The Committee agreed to write to Public Health Wales with follow-up questions.

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with Professor Carolyn Wallace, Wales School for Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR)

Professor Carolyn Wallace, Director - Wales School for Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR)

 

 

Research brief

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Professor Carolyn Wallace.

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with Mind Cymru and Leonard Cheshire

Sue O'Leary, Director - Mind Cymru

Ashra Khanom, Treasurer - Neath Port Talbot Black Minority Ethnic Community Association
Rhian Stangroom Teel, Public Engagement Manager – Leonard Cheshire
Nia Golding, Area Manager – Leonard Cheshire

 

Paper 3 – Mind Cymru

Paper 4 – Leonard Cheshire

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives of Mind Cymru and Leonard Cheshire.

Meeting: 11/05/2022 - Local Government and Housing Committee (Item 7)

7 Letter from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee in relation to its inquiry into mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.2.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee in relation to its inquiry into mental health inequalities.

Meeting: 04/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 3)

3 Letter from Chair, Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing regarding eating disorder services in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.12 The Committee noted the letter.

Meeting: 04/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 5)

Mental health inequalities: consideration of evidence

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Meeting: 04/05/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with the Centre for Mental Health and Society at Bangor University, Platfform and Psychologists for Social Change

Professor Rob Poole, Professor of Social Psychiatry - Centre for Mental Health and Society at Bangor University

Ewan Hilton, Chief Executive – Platfform

Dr Jen Daffin, Community Clinical Psychologist - Psychologists for Social Change

 


Research Brief

Paper 1 – Centre for Mental Health and Society at Bangor University

Paper 2 – Platfform

Paper 3 - Psychologists for Social Change

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives of Centre for Mental Health and Society at Bangor University, Platfform and Psychologists for Social Change.

2.2 The panel agreed to write to the Committee with additional examples of the role of partners and communities in developing and delivering community solutions, and promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing.

2.3 Ewan Hilton, Chief Executive – Platfform, agreed to share a copy of a report prepared by Platfform during the pandemic looking at issues relating to mental health and the workforce.

Meeting: 27/04/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 25/04/2022 - Equality and Social Justice Committee (Item 2)

2 Letter from Health and Social Care Committee regarding mental health inequalities inquiry - 5 April 2022

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 24/03/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 5)

5 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with Centre for Mental Health and Mental Health Foundation

Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive - Centre for Mental Health
Dr Antonis Kousoulis, Director for England and Wales – Mental Health Foundation


Research brief
Paper 2 – Centre for Mental Health
Paper 3 – Mental Health Foundation

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee received evidence from a representative of the Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation.

Meeting: 24/03/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 8)

8 Mental health inequalities: consideration of evidence

Consultation responses


Paper 6 – Engagement findings

Paper 7 – Next steps for the inquiry

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence received and agreed its approach to the next stage of the inquiry.

Meeting: 24/03/2022 - Health and Social Care Committee (Item 6)

6 Mental health inequalities: evidence session with the Children's Commissioner for Wales and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales

Professor Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Kirrin Spiby-Davidson, Policy Adviser, Children’s Commissioner for Wales

Heléna Herklots, Older People's Commissioner for Wales


Paper 4 – Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Paper 5 – Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from the Children's Commissioner for Wales and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales.

Meeting: 20/01/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Mental health inequalities

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 10/01/2022 - Equality and Social Justice Committee (Item 2)

2 Correspondence from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee regarding inquiry into mental health inequality - 14 December 2021

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.4a Members noted the correspondence.

 

 

Topics

Helpful Links

Related