English: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for calling me in this most important debate. Can I just start by paying tribute to Lynne Neagle, who is an outstanding voice and leader in this field, both as Chair of the committee, and in general in our debates here, and has done so much to hold the Government to account, to commend the Government when it's doing well, but also to remind it when there's still a huge gap that needs to be filled? I think all of us who have served as Assembly Members for any length of time would have had casework in this area that's tender and very, very painful. I have to say at least two cases come to mind in my own experience, and the complication of the cases, the length of time required in our own efforts to support those affected, was immense, and of some value in terms of improving public services, but of course, by way of direct therapy, of no particular use to the people that we were supporting. And that's when I really did experience this insight that, for some of my constituents, the first time they were really talking to someone outside their immediate family or group of friends about this issue was when they'd come to talk about the difficulties they were having in accessing adequate support. I have to say, I've also met people who have then spoken out - and Lynne talked about this - and given incredible witness. What an act of generosity it is, to come to a meeting here, perhaps, in the Oriel or the Neuadd, or indeed even in formal committee session, and indeed also in the all-party group that Lynne has established, and to talk about their experiences, to give that witness, so that others may be spared this terrible pain. And you were quite right, Lynne, to pay tribute to all those who have done that. When suicide afflicts children and young people, it is, I think, overwhelmingly painful. And I do pay tribute here to the work of Swansea University and Public Health Wales for their recently published thematic study, which is a great help I think in giving us a fuller understanding. And this was a study of all those aged between 10 and 17 who probably suffered suicide. Their deaths were rarely due to a single reason, but a complex combination of risk factors, circumstances, and adverse experiences. But families will often blame themselves and suffer appalling guilt, which itself then increases the risk of suicide. And it's at that point, because it is a natural tendency I think for many, to ask the question, 'What could I have done?', or even to say, 'What didn't I do?' These are not justified questions. These circumstances are overwhelming, but they are the thoughts that come to mind, and they are dark and unpleasant thoughts, and thoughts that eat away at people's own resolve very often, unless they can talk them through, and then are supported by people who realise that this is the inevitable response, often, that people who have suffered this trauma will experience. Clearly, bereavement services can play a crucial part in supporting those affected by suicide. The voluntary sector play a great role here, being highly innovative, and, as Lynne said, 2 Wish Upon a Star is a gold-standard example, in my opinion, of this. But there's also the likes of Cruse Bereavement Care Cymru. It provides support for about 360 people a year bereaved by suicide, providing one-to-one support and group support, but also giving incredible insight into the sorts of services that are required. And Cruse points out that it's critical that the right support is available at the right time, and that will be different for various people. Very structured approaches and therapeutic approaches may not be possible immediately or desired immediately by those affected, but then much needed later. So, you need to look at the whole case and whole pathway. But Cruse has pointed out that there are very limited counselling support services available to those bereaved by suicide, and I do think that that is something that we need to focus on this afternoon in our debate. I do think it's proper to balance our remarks by commending the work that the Welsh Government has started. And I did notice from the mid-term review, conducted by Swansea University and Health Promotion Wales, that the Welsh Government's five-year suicide prevention strategy has achieved some excellent progress and made developing local suicide prevention action plans a reality, and that they are coming into play. But they all need to be looking at what bereavement services are available. That's a key area in terms of preventing suicide. As we've just heard, those that have had a close friend or relative that has suffered suicide are themselves at risk, but have also given us those insights that are needed to plan effective services. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Welsh: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, am fy ngalw yn y ddadl hollbwysig hon. A gaf fi ddechrau drwy dalu teyrnged i Lynne Neagle, sy'n llais ac yn arweinydd rhagorol yn y maes hwn, fel Cadeirydd y pwyllgor, ac yn gyffredinol yn ein dadleuon yma, ac sydd wedi gwneud cymaint i ddwyn y Llywodraeth i gyfrif, i ganmol y Llywodraeth pan fo'n gwneud yn dda, ond hefyd i'w hatgoffa pan fo bwlch enfawr sy'n dal i fod angen ei lenwi? Credaf y bydd pob un ohonom sydd wedi gwasanaethu fel Aelodau Cynulliad am unrhyw gyfnod o amser wedi cael gwaith achos yn y maes hwn sy'n anodd ac yn boenus tu hwnt. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod o leiaf ddau achos yn dod i'r meddwl yn fy mhrofiad fy hun, ac roedd cymhlethdod yr achosion, yr amser oedd ei angen yn ein hymdrechion i gefnogi'r rheini yr effeithiwyd arnynt, yn aruthrol, ac o ryw werth o ran gwella gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ond wrth gwrs, fel therapi uniongyrchol nid oedd o unrhyw ddefnydd i'r bobl roeddem yn eu cefnogi. A dyna pryd y gwelais mai'r tro cyntaf y byddai rhai o fy etholwyr yn siarad â rhywun y tu allan i'w teulu neu grŵp o ffrindiau agos ynglŷn â hyn oedd pan ddeuent i siarad am yr anawsterau a gaent i gael mynediad at gefnogaeth ddigonol. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â phobl sydd wedi siarad amdano hefyd - a soniodd Lynne am hyn - ac wedi rhoi tystiolaeth anhygoel. Am weithred hael yw dod i gyfarfod yma, yn yr Oriel neu'r Neuadd efallai, neu'n wir i sesiwn pwyllgor ffurfiol hyd yn oed, ac i'r grŵp hollbleidiol y mae Lynne wedi'i sefydlu hefyd, ac i sôn am eu profiadau, i roi'r dystiolaeth honno, fel y gellir lleddfu'r boen ofnadwy hon i eraill. Ac roeddech yn llygad eich lle, Lynne, yn talu teyrnged i bawb sydd wedi gwneud hynny. Mae'n eithriadol o boenus pan fydd hunanladdiad yn digwydd ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc. Ac rwy'n talu teyrnged yma i waith Prifysgol Abertawe ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru am eu hastudiaeth thematig a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar, sy'n gymorth mawr yn fy marn i i roi dealltwriaeth lawnach i ni. Ac roedd hon yn astudiaeth o bawb rhwng 10 a 17 oed a oedd, yn ôl pob tebyg, wedi cyflawni hunanladdiad. Anaml y digwyddai eu marwolaethau o ganlyniad i un rheswm yn unig, a deillient o gyfuniad cymhleth o ffactorau risg, amgylchiadau a phrofiadau niweidiol. Ond yn aml, bydd teuluoedd yn beio'u hunain ac yn dioddef euogrwydd echrydus, ac mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn cynyddu'r risg o hunanladdiad. Ac ar y pwynt hwnnw, gan y credaf ei bod yn duedd naturiol i lawer ofyn y cwestiwn, 'Beth y gallwn fod wedi'i wneud?', neu hyd yn oed, 'Beth na wnes i?' Nid yw'r rhain yn gwestiynau y gellir eu cyfiawnhau. Mae'r amgylchiadau hyn yn llethol, ond dyna'r pethau sy'n dod i'r meddwl, ac maent yn feddyliau tywyll ac annymunol, ac yn feddyliau sy'n tanseilio penderfyniad pobl yn aml iawn, oni bai eu bod yn gallu siarad amdanynt, a chael eu cefnogi gan bobl sy'n sylweddoli mai dyma'r ymateb anochel, yn aml, y bydd pobl sydd wedi dioddef trawma o'r fath yn ei brofi. Yn amlwg, gall gwasanaethau profedigaeth chwarae rhan hanfodol yn cefnogi'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt gan hunanladdiad. Mae'r sector gwirfoddol yn chwarae rhan fawr yma, ac maent yn arloesol iawn, ac fel y dywedodd Lynne, mae 2 Wish Upon a Star yn enghraifft ardderchog o hyn yn fy marn i. Ond ceir pethau fel Gofal mewn Galar Cruse hefyd. Maent yn darparu cefnogaeth i oddeutu 360 o bobl sydd mewn profedigaeth o ganlyniad i hunanladdiad, ac yn rhoi cymorth un i un a chymorth grŵp, a hefyd yn cynnig gwybodaeth anhygoel ynghylch y mathau o wasanaethau sydd eu hangen. Ac mae Cruse yn nodi ei bod yn hanfodol fod y gefnogaeth iawn ar gael ar yr amser iawn, a bydd hynny'n wahanol i wahanol bobl. Efallai na fydd dulliau strwythuredig iawn a dulliau therapiwtig yn bosibl ar unwaith nac yn ddymunol ar unwaith i'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt, ond bydd eu hangen yn fawr yn nes ymlaen. Felly, mae angen i chi edrych ar yr achos cyfan a'r llwybr cyfan. Ond mae Cruse wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith mai prin iawn yw'r gwasanaethau cymorth cwnsela sydd ar gael i rai sydd mewn profedigaeth ar ôl hunanladdiad, a chredaf fod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i ni ganolbwyntio arno y prynhawn yma yn ein dadl. Credaf ei bod yn briodol cydbwyso ein sylwadau drwy ganmol y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i ddechrau. A sylwais o'r adolygiad canol tymor, a gynhaliwyd gan Brifysgol Abertawe a Hybu Iechyd Cymru, fod strategaeth bum mlynedd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer atal hunanladdiad wedi gweld cynnydd rhagorol ac wedi gwireddu'r gwaith o ddatblygu cynlluniau gweithredu lleol ar atal hunanladdiad, a'u bod yn dod yn weithredol. Ond mae angen i bob un ohonynt edrych ar ba wasanaethau profedigaeth sydd ar gael. Mae hwnnw'n faes allweddol o ran atal hunanladdiad. Fel rydym newydd glywed, mae'r rheini sydd wedi colli ffrind agos neu berthynas i hunanladdiad mewn perygl eu hunain, ond maent hefyd wedi rhoi'r mewnwelediad sydd eu hangen arnom i gynllunio gwasanaethau effeithiol. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd.