Written question WQ97831

Our 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, sets out our ambition for earlier intervention through an open access, same day approach to mental health care. This is an all-ages strategy and people accessing services including young people will be guided to the right support, first time and without delay.

The Welsh Government is working with partners in the NHS and with third sector to co-produce and develop these plans to ensure that all young people who need support receive it.

We have established the Strategic Programme for Mental Health (SPMH) to work with health boards to improve the quality and safety of services. As part of this work, they have developed a CAMHS specification, and they are now working with health boards to support its implementation, which will enable a standardised approach across health boards.

All health boards are also piloting a range of alternatives to admissions for young people in crisis. These include community-based support and partnership working with the third sector and providing environments that are designed to meet the needs of young people. These pilots are currently being evaluated, and we expect this work to be with us shortly. This work will inform our decision on the future of the pilots or how a national model may look.