Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

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Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing of Wales
Y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant (Welsh)
Flag of Wales.svg
Sarah-murphy (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Sarah Murphy MS
since 17 July 2024 (2024-07-17)
Welsh Government
Style Welsh Minister
StatusMinister
AbbreviationMinister
Member of Senedd
Reports tothe Senedd, the First Minister of Wales and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Seat Cardiff
Nominator First Minister of Wales
Appointer The Crown
Term length Five years
Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First holder Eluned Morgan AM
Website gov.wales/jayne-bryant-ms

The Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Welsh : Y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant) is a minister of the Welsh Government, accountable to the cabinet secretary for health and social care. Established as a cabinet position in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales, it was moved to a junior position in 2021. The current officeholder is Sarah Murphy since July 2024.

Contents

Ministers

NamePictureEntered officeLeft officeOther offices heldPolitical partyGovernmentNotes
Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language
Eluned Morgan Eluned Morgan AM (28136582086) (cropped).jpg 8 October 2020 (during COVID) [1] 13 May 2021Accountable to Minister for Health and Social Services [2] Labour First Drakeford government [1]
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle official portrait 2021 (cropped).JPG 13 May 202120 March 2024 Labour Second Drakeford government [3]
Minister for Mental Health and Early Years
Jayne Bryant Jayne-bryant (cropped).jpg 21 March 202417 July 2024 Labour Gething government [4]
Sarah Murphy Sarah-murphy (cropped).jpg 17 July 202411 September 2024 Labour Gething government

Eluned Morgan government

[5]
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sarah Murphy Sarah-murphy (cropped).jpg 11 September 2024Incumbent Labour Eluned Morgan government [6]

Responsibilities

When the post was created as a cabinet post in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales, its responsibilities were stated to include at the time to be; mental health services, patient experience, substance misuse, dementia, veterans' health, and the obesity strategy of Wales. [7]

Since becoming a junior post in 2021, the responsibilities of the post are: [3]

The post-holder launched the "National Framework for Social Prescribing" in December 2023, aiming for the consistent delivery of social prescribing. [8] [9] The post-holder also announced in 2023, funding arrangements for Trading Standards Wales, concerning illegal electronic cigarettes, [10] and online therapy services overseen by Powys Teaching Health Board in 2022. [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "First Minister strengthens ministerial health team | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. "Welsh Government introduces post of minister for mental health and wellbeing". Care Appointments. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Lynne Neagle MS: Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. "Wales' new First Minister Vaughan Gething announces his cabinet". ITV News. 21 March 2024.
  5. "Vaughan Gething reshuffles Welsh Labour top team after resignations". The Independent. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  6. "Welsh government reshuffle: Miles back as minister after ousting Gething". BBC News. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  7. "Mental health minister role for Senedd's Eluned". Western Telegraph. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. "Social prescribing growing in Wales". University of South Wales. 11 December 2023.
  9. Dave (11 December 2023). "Launching National Framework for Social Prescribing". WCVA. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. "Welsh Government funding to crack down on illegal vaping market". GVS. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  11. "More than £7m funding for mental health service". Western Telegraph. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2024.