NDM8374 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Mental health

NDM8374 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Tuesday 10 October is World Mental Health Day.

2. Welcomes the establishment of the 24/7 NHS 111 Wales press 2 service.

3. Regrets that:

a) that self-harm is one of the top five causes of medical admissions and that suicide rates are increasing;

b) the number of children waiting more than 4 weeks for a first mental health appointment in Wales is rising; and

c) that mental health is not treated with the same priority as physical health.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) introduce a new mental health act for Wales to improve access to mental health support and treatment for patients and their families and ensure that mental health has parity of esteem with physical health;

b) ensure that spending on mental health and wellbeing services is increased in real terms annually to meet the demands placed on mental health services;

c) commit to providing a dedicated in-patient eating disorder unit in Wales; and

d) ensure that all public bodies in Wales offer mental health first aid training to staff.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all after point 2 and replace with:

Notes that:

a) preventing suicide and self-harm remains a key priority for the Welsh Government; 

b) mental health continues to be the highest area of spending by the NHS in Wales.

Agrees that mental health should be treated with the same priority as physical health.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-point at end of point 3:

there has been lack of education and understanding around mental health

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Insert as new sub-points at end of point 4:

make perinatal mental health a priority in the Government’s new Mental Health Strategy;

ensure that all professionals working with women in the perinatal period have the necessary knowledge and understanding of perinatal mental health;

ensure that every maternity service has a minimum whole-time equivalent Band 7 perinatal specialist midwife;

ensure that all maternity professionals are equally concerned with mental as well as physical health in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal period.