TORFAEN Assembly Member Lynne Neagle was quizzed by Welsh Youth Parliament member Abbie Cooper on the additional £7.1m Welsh Government recently made available to support the mental health of children and young people in Wales.

Miss Cooper, who represents Youth Cyrmu on the Youth Parliament, is determined to help highlight the issue of mental health among young people.

The 16-year-old Cwmbran High School pupil used her first speech to the Youth Parliament to call for mental health to be a top priority with members.

Miss Cooper said: "It was great to meet with Lynne Neagle and ask her about the support that is available for young people with mental illness in Wales.

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"I think the more we talk about such issues the more we break down the taboo around mental illness."

Ms Neagle said: "It was great to meet with Abbie and to see someone so keen to raise awareness of mental illness among young people.

"As chair of the National Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee I too am keen to seen a step change in emotional and mental health support for children and young people in Wales.

"I think it is difficult for anyone who saw some of the speeches the young people made at their first meeting not to have been inspired. The Youth Parliament is clearly a phenomenal and historic success.

"I am particularly pleased two of the areas identified by the Youth Parliament as priorities - life skills in the curriculum and the emotional and mental health of children and young people - are issues the Children, Young People and Education Committee have also prioritised."