Decision details

Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

  • Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

Decision:

The item started at 16.54

 

Due to a technical fault with the microphone system proceedings were suspended at 17.18. The bell was rung before reconvening at 17.30.

 

NDM5702 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

1. Notes that:

 

a) the Office for National Statistics estimates that one in four British adults will experience a mental health problem within any given year;

 

b) the World Health Organisation estimates that 20% of the 'burden of disease' in the UK is represented by mental illness but that mental health accounts for just 11% of NHS spending;

 

c) mental health problems can interact with other conditions to further worsen a person's wellbeing;

 

d) according to the UK Chief Medical Officer, three-quarters of adult mental disorders are in evidence by the age of 21, but three-quarters of children and young people with these disorders are not diagnosed or treated;

 

e) Stats Wales showed young people under the age of 18 accounted for 85% of the population waiting more than 18 weeks in December 2014 between referral and receiving first treatment for mental health problems;

 

f) research by Mind found that 1 in 3 workers in the UK wouldn't be able to talk openly with their line managers about stress.

 

2. Welcomes the excellent work of the third sector in raising awareness for mental health wellbeing.

 

3. Believes more must be done to support people to look after their own mental health.

 

4. Believes there must be a parity of emphasis between mental and physical health.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) carry out a study to determine what additional funding and resources are required for mental health provision in Wales in order to ensure parity of emphasis between mental and physical health services;

 

b) expand liaison psychiatry in the NHS to provide mental healthcare support for people being treated with physical health problems;

 

c) offer mental health support training and advice to all those who work closely with children;

 

d) ensure all new student teachers receive basic mental health support training as part of the qualified teacher status;

 

e) ensure that employers make workplaces a mental health friendly environment.

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Publication date: 25/02/2015

Date of decision: 25/02/2015

Decided at meeting: 25/02/2015 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly