Those on waiting lists need mental health support

“NOBODY should suffer in silence” is an important phrase often said to people suffering with mental health issues – but recent revelations show that is easier said than done.

When people do bravely seek the support they so desperately need, they are faced with ridiculously long waiting times across Wales.

It’s no secret that waiting times for a whole host of NHS treatments have skyrocketed because of Labour’s mismanagement of the health service in Wales for more than two decades.

Of course, the pandemic has no doubt exacerbated things, but we must not forget that the NHS backlog doubled a year before the pandemic hit – and now it’s completely out of control.

Figures published just days ago show some 645,486 people – or nearly a quarter of the adult population in Wales – are waiting on a NHS waiting list.

And latest figures also showed there were 854 adults across Wales waiting more than 28 days from referral to a mental health assessment.

It’s completely unacceptable that people are having to endure lengthy waits, but what many people don’t realise is the impact these waits are having on patients’ mental health.

Waiting months on end in excruciating pain will quickly start to take its toll on wellbeing, and delays to operations such as hip and knee replacements can leave those with mobility issues feeling lonely and isolated while they are waiting.

We, the Welsh Conservatives, believe that Labour ministers need to put psychological help in place, among other support, for people facing unacceptably long waiting times for much-needed treatment.

It’s regrettable that we even have to call for psychological help because Labour should not have allowed waiting times to spiral so out of control.

And waiting times for people to access mental health support are ever-increasing, with the latest data painting a very grim picture in Wales.

Concerning figures show that nearly two in three children and young people are waiting more than a month for an appointment with Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – which is the worst on record.

And not too long ago it was revealed the number of young people presenting at hospital with selfharming issues had risen by 39% since 2007.

What I find utterly staggering is that the Labour administration has known about the ever-worsening problem for a long time but has failed to take meaningful action.

And it’s not like ministers haven’t had the chance to do something about it. Just a few weeks ago, the Welsh Conservatives held a debate in the Senedd calling on the government to tackle the country’s mental health crisis.

But unfortunately, our motion – which would’ve provided more support for people suffering with mental health issues – was rejected by Labour. We wanted to see ministers establish targets for waiting times for mental health treatment, including the reduction of backlogs and annual reports which would allow us to see the state of services in Wales year on year.

Not only that, but we also called for mental health crisis centres, which would be open around the clock, to be rolled out across the country – something which we have been long campaigning for.

It’s a shame that other politicians across the chamber couldn’t leave party politics at the door and back our motion.

As the Shadow Minister for Mental Health, I’ll carry on banging the drum for more help and support at every opportunity I get because the people of Wales deserve better than this.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it until I’m blue in the face – we need to see action now before this appalling problem gets any worse.