During World Mental Health Day (10 October 2023), Janet Finch-Saunders MS, highlighted to Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister, the fact that lack of access to mental health services often leads to those suffering to turn to drugs and alcohol, or indeed both to alleviate their symptoms.
During Plenary, both the First Minister and the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy agreed that the numbers of residents presenting with mental health concerns have increased since the pandemic.
Janet Finch-Saunders referred to the excellent work of Hafan Wen in providing a range of drug and alcohol detoxification programmes to both NHS and private patients, but noted that demand is outstripping available support.
Speaking after her contribution, Janet said:
“Bearing in mind that drug misuse deaths in Wales reached record highs last year, with figures nearly doubling, there is an urgent need for North Wales residents to have access to detoxification and rehabilitation beds.
“Prior to devolution there were 18 detoxification and rehabilitation beds in Hafan Wen, Wrexham. There are now 25 beds.
“It would be fantastic to see the Welsh Government and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board build on the admirable work of Hafan Wen. That really would be good news on World Mental Health Day”.
ENDS
Yn ystod Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd (10 Hydref 2023), pwysleisiodd Janet Finch-Saunders AS wrth Mark Drakeford AS, y Prif Weinidog, fod diffyg mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn aml yn arwain at y rhai sy'n dioddef i droi at gyffuriau ac alcohol, neu'r ddau i leddfu eu symptomau.
Yn ystod y Cyfarfod Llawn, cytunodd y Prif Weinidog a’r Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy fod nifer y preswylwyr sy'n ymgyflwyno â phryderon iechyd meddwl wedi cynyddu ers y pandemig.
Cyfeiriodd Janet Finch-Saunders at waith rhagorol Hafan Wen wrth ddarparu amrywiaeth o raglenni dadwenwyno cyffuriau ac alcohol i gleifion y GIG a chleifion preifat, ond nododd fod y galw yn fwy na'r cymorth sydd ar gael.
Wrth siarad ar ôl ei chyfraniad, dywedodd Janet:
"O gofio bod marwolaethau yn sgil camddefnyddio cyffuriau yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd y lefel uchaf erioed y llynedd, gyda'r ffigurau wedi dyblu bron iawn, mae angen i drigolion Gogledd Cymru gael mynediad at welyau dadwenwyno ac adsefydlu ar unwaith.
"Cyn datganoli roedd 18 o welyau dadwenwyno ac adsefydlu yn Hafan Wen, Wrecsam. Mae 25 o welyau ar gael ar hyn o bryd.
"Byddai'n wych gweld Llywodraeth Cymru a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn adeiladu ar waith clodwiw Hafan Wen. Byddai hynny'n newyddion da iawn ar Ddiwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd".
DIWEDD
