Letter to Welsh Government about the UN report on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights in the UK

The UN rapporteur Philip Alston’s hard-hitting report on poverty, concluded that the UK government is in a state of denial about the impact of austerity policies on the poor. We've written a letter to the Welsh government with recommendations specific to Wales.  

You can read what PSC are saying about it here: http://www.psychchange.org/blog/psc-response-to-un-report-on-extreme-poverty-and-human-rights 

Updates

​Since sending the below letter on the 6th Feb 2019 we have had a reply from the Minister for Health and Social Care on 28th Feb 2019. We sent a reply back on June 6th, 2019.  You can find the listed correspondence below.  

Dear Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales

Re: Letter to Welsh Government on the UN report on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights in the UK

On November 16th 2018 Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights delivered his preliminary findings after a tour of the UK. The report demonstrates the continued attack on the welfare state under the UK government and is being held up to international scrutiny. Wales has the highest levels of poverty in the UK. Therefore we, the below signed, welcome Philip Alston's visit and the findings of his report.

Although issues of causality are complex, there is significant evidence for the relationship between poverty, inequality, and mental health difficulties. Philip Alston’s report highlighted the suffering that has been inflicted through the UK government’s austerity policies since 2009 and states that mental health, loneliness and suicide were raised as serious problems associated with the continued removal of welfare and community facilities. It highlighted the impact that Universal Credit (UC) is having on people’s mental health, finances, housing, and work prospects.

The UN report gives a firm foundation that austerity is not over and UC is adding to its devastating effects. We know that UC has already pushed families in Swansea into arrears of £73,000 following the first two months of its roll out. The reduction in the waiting time for UC payments is not enough to save people from being evicted from their homes, having to depend on food banks, and living in debt. Furthermore, rent arrears is set to more than treble in Wales under the UC scheme. The implementation of UC will push already vulnerable families and their children further into poverty and making many homeless. The consequences of UC will have a significant negative impact on the mental wellbeing of the estimated 408,000 households across Wales that will be subject to it.

As you know, things were not looking good before UC. A recent report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation warns that previous efforts to reduce poverty in Wales, which had delivered “great strides, are now “unravelling”. Insecure employment is the highest in the UK and 1 in 30 people are currently on zero-hours contracts. This is having profound consequences for people’s mental health. Job insecurity is as damaging for mental health as unemployment and feeling trapped by debt or poor employment conditions nearly trebles a person’s chances of being diagnosed with anxiety or depression.

That is not all. One in four people in Wales live in poverty; the highest of all the UK nations. We also have the highest rates of child poverty and life expectancy is 15 years lower in the most deprived areas. Suicide rates have increased over the past decade for both men (18.7 to 20.9 per 100,000) and women (4.3 to 5.8 per 100,000). There is now overwhelming evidence of a strong connection between socioeconomic deprivation and suicidal behaviour. At the end of 2016 nearly 1,200 children were admitted to hospital after harming themselves; a 41% rise over three years. Between 2016 and 2017 alone rough sleeping in Wales rose by a third. The Association of Directors of Social Service in Wales (ADSS Cymru) and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) have published a joint-position statement on the condition of Children’s Services within Welsh local authorities. This shows that the sector is at ‘breaking point’ and is struggling to cope with the challenges of increased demand and complexity of cases being presented to councils daily.

I’m sure you will agree that we will not reduce (mental) health inequalities and improve population health outcomes until policy better supports the most vulnerable in our society. Policy must support people out of poverty, out of debt, away from food banks, and to have secure or suitable housing. It needs to enable the people of Wales to have secure and reliable employment, and to foster a sense of community and belonging. We need to address these things in order to break the cycle of intergenerational mental distress and to reduce the five damaging psychological costs associated with social and political adversity and inequality. However, it is not possible to fully deliver on these issues under the imposition of UK government austerity measures and UC. UC also causes discrimination, particularly against disabled people (has been deemed unlawful), women (child care limitation) and older people (digital by default). We understand that this is not within the Welsh Government’s powers, but we need to ensure every defense possible is being used.

Poverty is about more than money. We agree with Welsh Government’s A Healthier Wales plan (2018) that “we need people to take more responsibility”. However, this will not be achieved through “using social media and digital platforms” to help people have a better understanding of the “impact of ‘lifestyle factors’ such as smoking, excessive drinking, having a healthy weight, good diet and exercise.“ We know all of these public health concerns, and many others, are intrinsically linked to adverse childhood (ACEs) and social and economic adversity. Therefore we, the below signed, call on the Welsh Government to:
​
  • Implement the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s Mind Over Matter report recommendations and apply the recommendations for changes to CAMHS to adult, forensic, and older adult mental health service provision (e.g. develop methods of applying the ‘iceberg’ model, a whole system approach, and other trauma informed interventions).
  • Appoint a Minister for Poverty to be accountable for developing a strategy that goes beyond employment opportunities and fiscal stimulation, and has clear and measurable targets to address deprivation, child poverty, and economic stress.
  • Support the Wellbeing of Future Generations Commissioner to embed (with equal merit to health determinants) the social determinants of mental health into the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015).


Yours sincerely,
  1. Psychologists for Social Change, South Wales
  2. Ewan Hilton, Chief Executive Gofal
  3. Frances Beecher, Chief Executive Llamau​
  4. Allison Hulmes, Deputy Director British Association of Social Workers Cymru
  5. Wayne Crocker JP. Director Mencap Cymru
  6. Joe Powell, National Director, All Wales People First
  7. Dr Elanor Maybury, Consultant Clinical Psychologist​
  8. Dr Elizabeth Gregory Consultant Clinical Psychologist
  9. Dr Rachel Williams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Children and Families
  10. John Griffith, AM, Chair Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee
  11. Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru AM for the Rhondda
  12. Sian Gwenllian, AM Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet member for Education, Children and Young People Committee
  13. Llyr Gruffydd , Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales
  14. Mirka Johanna Virtanen, Acting Leader of Wales Green Party
  15. Sarah Wills, Health of Services, Gofal
  16. Sam Austin, Deputy Chief Executive, Llamau
  17. Dr Emma Johnston. Lead Clinical Psychologist, Early Years, Children with Learning Disabilities
  18. Jen Daffin, Clinical Psychologist in Training and Psychologists for Social Change
  19. Dr Matt Yates, Clinical Psychologist and Psychologists for Social Change
  20. Kiran Guye, Clinical Psychologist in Training and Psychologists for Social Change
  21. Dr Naomi Swift, Clinical Psychologist and Psychologists for Social Change
  22. Dr Kat Rayson, Clinical Psychologist
  23. ​Claire Leahy, Educational Psychologist
  24. Dr Jessica Williams, Clinical Psychologist
  25. Dr Sarah Brown, Clinical Psychologist
  26. Dr. Rachel Evans, Clinical Psychologist
  27. ​Ceri Perkins Parent in CAMHS
  28. Misbah Gladwyn-Khan, Clinical Psychologist in Training
  29. Dr Jonathan Harrold, Clinical Psychologist
  30. Dr Angela Brealey, Clinical Psychologist
  31. Emma Harries
  32. Dr Tom Henwood, Clinical Psychologist
  33. Dr Gavin Guye, Psychologist
  34. Louise Peters, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  35. Kate Jobbins, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  36. Dr Katherine Donnelly, Clinical Psychologist
  37. Dr Gina Cratchley, Clinical Psychologist
  38. Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, Clinical Psychologist
  39. Dr Emma Hutchings, Forensic Psychologist
  40. Dr Cerith Waters, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Academic
  41. Dr Gemma Roberts, Clinical Psychologist
  42. Dr Sara Cooper, Clinical Psychologist
  43. Dr. Victoria James-Perkins Clinical Psychologist
  44. Dr Emma Thomas, Clinical Psychologist
  45. Abyd Quinn Aziz BASW Cymru
  46. Jane Gwynn Social Justice/Advocacy Student UWTSD
  47. Owen Hedges
  48. Jo Nelson, Engineer
  49. Simon Mudie, Expert by Experience   
  50. Lauren Charles-Nelson, Trainee Educational Psychologist
  51. A Colderick
  52. Bill Garnett, Freelance Social Care Consultant
  53. Gwyn Thomas de Chroustchoff, Third Sector Events and Marketing Professional
  54. Dr Siwan Roberts, Uwch Seicolegydd Clinigol/ Senior Clinical Psychologist
  55. Kayleigh Beirne
  56. Mr R W Ebley
  57. Kerry (Healthcare)
  58. Dr Rosslyn OFFORD Consultant Clinical Psychologist
​
​Updated 06/02/2019