How is the Cabinet Secretary working with health boards to encourage referrals to community support groups for young people struggling with poor mental health that do not meet the criteria for a child and adolescent mental health services referral?
Health boards are responsible for the planning and commissioning of services to meet the needs of their population. They provide a range of information to help individuals to access support, including helplines, services and community groups.
The Welsh Government has published the National Framework for Social Prescribing which provides guidance to how social prescribing can link people, whatever their age or background, to community-based, non-clinical support. We will be working with stakeholders, including health boards, to further promote this work.
At a national level, we continue to invest in a range of support across Wales with the aim of preventing those with a mental health related needs requiring specialist care. This includes support in schools, online therapeutic support and cognitive behavioural therapy, a prescriptive reading service called Reading Well, the BEAT eating disorders helpline and the CALL Mental Health adviceline for Wales. Our CALL adviceline also helps signpost people to support available in their local area.
We have also provided funding for health boards to commission sanctuary services for children and young people experiencing emotional distress as an alternative to specialist mental health services. These are facilities that offer young people the right support, in an appropriate environment and at a time where they need it most.
Our draft Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, which is currently out for consultation, sets out our longer-term vision for mental health and well-being in Wales.