RCPsych in Wales made a strong impact at the Senedd on 1 July, engaging with MSs, showcasing its MS guide to mental health and mental illness and giving aspiring healthcare professionals a behind-the-scenes experience for their final day of Summer School.
Summer School students holding the MS guide to mental health and mental illness, along with Salimah Lalji, Head of Media, Communications and Campaigns and Dafydd Huw, Policy and Public Affairs Manager
As part of the College’s annual Summer School – a two-day programme for Year 11 students who are interested in healthcare careers – teenagers from across Wales met Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and took part in an interactive Q&A session with her.
Following her re-election to the Senedd, Natasha Asghar MS spoke about her journey into politics and her commitments to improving health and social care outcomes.
Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, with Dr Caroline Walters, Head of RCPsych in Wales
She encouraged the students to think about the wide range of career opportunities available to them and even invited them to join her for work experience.
The students also experienced Y Farchnad – the Senedd’s regular marketplace-style event where organisations can engage directly with MSs and answer their questions on key issues.
Representing the College at the stand were Professor Alka Ahuja, Chair of RCPsych in Wales, Dr Katie Fergus, Chair of the College’s Faculty of Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry, Dr Rhys Bevan-Jones, from the College’s Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Dr Caroline Walters, Head of RCPsych in Wales.
The experts spoke with MSs from across the political parties highlighting the importance of mental health and promoting the College’s MS guide to mental health and mental illness – a practical resource for elected representatives.
As part of their visit, the students were given a guided tour of the Senedd and sat in the public gallery overlooking the Siambr (debating chamber).
In the afternoon, the students got creative at Gwersyll yr Urdd Caerdydd (the Urdd's Cardiff Residential Centre) as they helped paint a mural for the Dyfodol Programme – a Welsh Government-funded programme hosted by the College’s National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, which develops innovative, evidence-based approaches to shaping the future of mental health services in Wales.
The artwork was designed by Welsh artist Rhiannon Roberts, who also created the College’s landmark mural to celebrate 20 years of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales.
Rhiannon Roberts leading the art workshop for students
For further information, please contact:
- Email: wales@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: RCPsychWales