Written question WQ92279
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What discussions is the Minister having with the UK Government to ensure mental health issues, especially self-harm, are dealt with effectively by prisons in Wales?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Mental Health and Early Years
Mental health and wellbeing are identified as priorities in the Partnership Agreement in Prison Health. This is a collaborative agreement between Welsh Government, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Health Boards and Public Health Wales – which is overseen by the Prison Health and Social Care Oversight Board. The Oversight Board is jointly chaired between Welsh Government and HMPPS in Wales. The Partnership Agreement for Prison health specifically recognises the role of the wider prison environment in supporting the health and wellbeing outcomes of people in prison.
Welsh Government is currently consulting on a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and a new Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy. People in prison are recognised as an under-served group in both strategies – and the Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy identifies prisons and custodial settings (including Youth Offending Institutions) as priority settings.
One of the objectives of the Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy is to deliver rapid and impactful prevention, intervention, and support to those groups in society who are the most vulnerable to suicide and self-harm through the settings with which they are most engaged. This will be supported by developing capability and response in key settings where the most vulnerable to self-harm and/or suicide might present. Welsh Government will be meeting with HMPPS in Wales to discuss both strategies, as part of the consultation.
Links to both consultations are set out below for sharing with stakeholders, and we look forward to hearing your views.
Draft mental health and wellbeing strategy
• Cymraeg – https://www.llyw.cymru/strategaeth-ddrafft-iechyd-meddwl-llesiant-meddyliol
• English – https://www.gov.wales/draft-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy
Draft suicide and self-harm prevention strategy
• Cymraeg – https://www.llyw.cymru/strategaeth-ddrafft-atal-hunanladdiad-hunan-niweidio
• English – https://www.gov.wales/draft-suicide-and-self-harm-prevention-strategy