North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Deaf Issues, Mark Isherwood MS, has once again highlighted that Wales is the only UK country without a Deaf Mental Health Service and called on the First Minister to ensure that Deaf people are part of the new Mental Health Strategy for Wales.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in the Senedd last November and, speaking in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, called on the First Minister to provide an update on the Welsh Government's New Mental Health Strategy and asked her to ensure that the Welsh Government engages with the All-Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group.
He said:
“Speaking here in November, I called for a Welsh Government Statement by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing on the inclusion of Deaf people in the new Mental Health Strategy for Wales, after the All-Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group, a group of Deaf and hearing professionals and charities, had written to the Minister stating that they were ‘keen to ensure that Deaf people in Wales are really and truly part of’ this.
“Wales is the only UK country without a Deaf Mental Health Service, yet Deaf people are twice as likely to experience a mental health problem as a hearing person.
“Responding, the Trefnydd said that ‘the Minister will want to respond positively’ to the Group's call, However, writing to the Minister last month, the Group stated that they did not receive a reply from her. They may have now; I don't know.
“What update can you therefore provide, or action will you take, to ensure that the Welsh Government has further discussions with the Group and the Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists, with whom they're working closely?”
In her response, the First Minister said there has been “huge strides forward when it comes to mental health support”.
She added:
“Specifically for deaf people, though, and I know your interest in this, and I know you’ve been championing this issue for a long time, we've asked the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee to undertake a review to improve mental health services for those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and this review will inform the delivery plan, which will be published alongside the Strategy.”