This week we mark World Mental Health Day, a day where we celebrate how far we our society has come when it comes to talking about mental health, but we must also remember how much work we still have to do.

Unfortunately, stigma surrounding mental health is one of the most important barriers that still needs to be torn down.

One in four of us will experience mental health problems as some point in our lives, so this really is an issue we as a society need to tackle head on.

This Wednesday, I am happy to say that the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Senedd motion to mark World Mental Health Day.

Not only do we want to mark the day, but we are also calling on the Welsh Government to put forward a series of measures to tackle mental health in Wales.

More action must be taken in Wales, especially considering the fact that the number of children waiting more than four weeks for a first appointment with mental health services in Wales is rising with waiting lists rising to 14% in July 2023.

I and my colleagues want to see a new mental health act here in Wales. We want to see an increase on spending on mental health and wellbeing services, not only in cash terms, but in real terms.

We also want to see an eating disorder unit established here in Wales and ensure all public bodies in Wales offer mental health first aid training to staff.

Steps are being taken in the right direction by Welsh ministers to deal with mental health, but the dire state of our NHS waiting lists is hindering meaningful progress.

The time for talking about support for mental health is over. We need more action if we are to take this issue seriously.