Andrew RT Davies MS – the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services – has spoken of his rising concern over mental health referrals, diagnoses, and treatment during the pandemic.
Welsh Conservative Mr Davies made his comments after figures on access to mental health services were published by StatsWales today (November 25).
He said:
“Look, mental health services have always been treated like a poor relation by this Welsh Labour-led Government, and even before the lockdowns started, and all the way through from March, we’ve been calling for better and enhanced provision for services.
“Sadly, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears, and only earlier this week, we saw the alarming figures for suicides in Wales in 2019.
“Many of us have known of friends or acquaintances tragically taking their own lives in even the best of years. 2020 has been anything but a good year, and I dread to see the figures for this year that most of us would like to forget, because the Coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on people’s wellbeing
“The Labour Party’s lack of leadership in tackling this issue is very concerning and it’s clear a post-Covid mental health plan is now urgently required so that services and access to support can be guaranteed wherever you live in Wales.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has rightly led health news for months, but unless action is taken, we’ll see another, hidden pandemic of a mental health crisis in our country.”
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