THE Welsh Government’s attitude to mental health issues in children has been branded "not good enough" by a Gwent AM.

In a report issued in April, the Welsh Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, which is led by Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle, called on the Welsh Government to treat mental health among young people as a priority.

But the Welsh Government's official response dismissed a number of the report's recommendations.

And, leading a debate into the report, which also called for everyone working with children and young people to be trained in mental health awareness, in the Senedd yesterday, Ms Neagle said she was "deeply disappointed" with the response.

"While many recommendations are accepted in principle, this is largely on the basis that the Welsh Government perceives that the things we have called for are already in place," she said. "Well, I say to the Welsh Government today - we do not agree with you.

"We do not believe sufficient attention has been given to the robust and comprehensive evidence that we have presented in our report."

She added: "As a committee, we reject this response - it is not good enough.

"Neither the detailed evidence we’ve outlined, provided by a range of experts, with significant experience in the field, nor the recommendations to which we have given considerable and serious thought, have met with the acknowledgement, analysis and respect they deserve. The step change we have called for is not visible in this response as it stands.

"Our ambition is not met with the ambition we expect and demand of our government."

AMs of multiple parties were united in their support for the report and dismay at the Welsh Government’s response, with Plaid Cymru's Dai Lloyd, who is a working GP, saying the way mental health services operates "has to change" and Conservative Angela Burns calling the response "downright resentful".

The committee visited schools and projects in Newport in putting together the report. And Newport West AM Jayne Bryant welcomed the findings of the report, saying: "From a young age, we instil in children that they do not need to tolerate physical pain.

"The committee's report is an excellent and crucial reminder that we all have responsibility to ensure young people grow up knowing that their minds matter as well."

Responding to the debate, education secretary Kirsty Williams said “extra time” was needed to consider how some of the committee’s recommendations could be implemented.

Although she assured AMs supporting people with mental health problems is a priority for the Welsh Government, Ms Williams agreed some areas “can and must do better for young people”.

In a statement issued after the debate a spokesman from NSPCC Cymru/Wales said: “Emotional and mental health is the most common reason for our Childline service to counsel children from Wales with more than 2,000 sessions delivered last year alone.

“The Welsh Government’s current response to the Mind over Matter report does not deliver the step-change in the levels of support provided to young people experiencing these difficulties.

“The embedding of wellbeing in the curriculum and the work of the Together for Children and Young People Programme are positive developments, but a more integrated approach is greatly needed across education, health and social care.

“This should prioritise early intervention and better emotional and mental health support for children and young people alongside further improvements in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).”