What action is the Minister taking to ensure that mental health services are available to people over bank holidays and weekends?
We expect health boards to plan services to meet local needs, this includes during weekends and banks holidays. NHS mental health services are accessible out of normal hours through crisis teams and psychiatric liaison teams.
The 111, press 2 service is available to everyone in Wales to access urgent mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This provides access to a mental health professional, without the need for a GP referral, and can help support people to manage a mental health crisis.
Alongside investment in our specialist services, we continue to fund a range of support that can be accessed without the need for referral, either over the phone or online. This includes our CALL helpline, which is available 24/7 and offers a confidential listening and support service. We also provide online access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which can be accessed at any time. Information about these services is included on the 111 website for ease of access.
We expect all health boards to provide clear and easily accessible information about the range of services they provide and how these can be accessed, including over bank holidays and weekends.