MINISTER ADDRESSES CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SENEDD EVENT

• Vaughn Gething AM and Jack Sargeant AM address Action for Children’s Build Sound Minds event hosted by Rhianon Passmore to mark Children’s Mental Health Week
• Whitchurch High pupils from Cardiff also address audience

Action for Children has marked Children’s Mental Health Week (4-10 February) by showcasing its services for young people’s mental health in Wales at the Pierhead Building at the Welsh Assembly on the 6th February.
 

The Build Sound Minds event, sponsored and hosted by Rhianon Passmore AM, saw an audience of children’s services staff, AMs and local councillors hear from minister for health and social services, Vaughn Gething AM, Jack Sargeant AM and from young people who have benefitted from the charity’s services such as the Blues Programme, The Guide and a range of pioneering family intervention services.

Those who attended also had the chance to speak to staff who are in the frontline delivering the diverse and innovative projects that are proven in improving the mental health issues so many of our children and young people are confronted with.

The need among children and young people for mental health support right across the UK is urgent and growing. One third (1) of the 15-18-year olds assessed by Action for Children in 2017/18 to take part in the Blues Programme were found to be suffering from mental health and emotional wellbeing issues and two students from Whitchurch High in Cardiff, Rowan and Jake who’ve participated in the Blues Programme joined a panel to discuss these issues.

Brigitte Gater, national director for Action for Children in Wales, said: ‘I was delighted to showcase our work to the minister for health and social services, Vaughn Gething AM and thrilled he made time to address the event. Action for Children is at the vanguard of providing innovative mental health services in Wales and it was great to talk about the Blues Programme, the Guide and our pioneering family intervention services to such an influential audience.

‘We’re very grateful to Rhianon for sponsoring and hosting the event and Jack Sargeant for speaking so movingly about mental health issues. The stars of the show, however, were our brilliant young people from Whitchurch High, Jake and Rowan who took part in our Blues Programme and are going from strength to strength.’

Jack Sargeant AM for Alyn & Deeside, said: ‘You can’t underestimate the importance of events like this and the importance of Action for Children’s work on a daily basis. I was particularly impressed by the young people speaking on the stage about their own experiences. It’s a difficult thing to do as I know from my personal experiences in the Assembly but the importance of what they’ve done today will go a long way to playing a part in a better and kinder world with better mental health for all.

‘I thank everyone at the event today and Action for Children for their work but the real credit goes to Rowan and Jake for sharing their experiences with us all.’

Rhianon Passmore AM for Islwyn, said: ‘It was a privilege to sponsor Action for Children’s Build Sounds Minds event at the National Assembly for Wales on 6th February. It was a timely showcase, taking place during Children’s Mental Health Week, of the positive work of Action for Children across Wales. The partnership working between Action for Children delivering the innovative Blue Programmes in secondary schools with funding from Royal Mail demonstrates the creative ways we can aid young people with a better understanding of mental health literacy.

‘The Welsh Government has stated that the mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people is an absolutely priority. This was further evidenced by the announcement by the Welsh Health Minister, Vaughan Gething AM, on 14th January that an additional £7.1 million was being made available to help protect, improve and support the mental health of children and young people in Wales. The funding will build on previous investments to improve child and adolescent mental health services and will also support the whole-school approach to improve mental health and wellbeing in schools.

‘I was grateful that the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething AM, was able to address the event and explain his candid thoughts on the actions that Welsh Government are taking. In addition, the National Assembly for Wales’ youngest Assembly Member Jack Sargeant gave a highly personalised speech talking of the issues that children and young people face that impact on their mental health.

‘I offer my thanks to the work of Action for Children. Following this exciting event in the National Assembly for Wales, I will be excited to see how young people in the communities I represent in Islwyn can benefit from the exciting developments taking place within this field.’

For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk

Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk