16/02/2016 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today - our top stories: Experiencing

a mental health crisis - Louisa Tanner ended up

Tonight, calls to improve care for mental health patients.

And leaking windows and cold classrooms -

the teaching union which wants to double the amount spent

Should someone facing a mental health crisis ever end up in A

That's the reality for too many patients, according to mental health

experts who've spoken to Wales Today.

They've described support here as patchy and are calling

for more appropriate places of safety -

As part of the BBC's In the Mind season, Carys Notley

Rowan has lived with chronic depression and anxiety

At just 13, she started self-harming.

Two years ago, Rowan had a severe breakdown,

But she says the poor care she received in A

would deter her from seeking help there again.

I felt like I was being a bit of a burden because I had done it

to myself, so I was just asking somebody else to clean up my mess

rather than being a patient who deserved care.

There was no mental-health nurse, nobody came to talk to me,

it was just stapled up and on your way.

A departments are not always equipped to deal

They often don't have specialists working there who can advise

and identify onward routes of referral for individuals.

So people may end up in A departments but they may not be best

Whilst Rowan says she would have benefited from further care,

many others experiencing a crisis are detained for their own safety

Last year, 1,181 people in Wales were admitted to a health-based

place of safety but when there are no hospital beds available,

often the only safe place for people to go is a police cell,

which is where 541 people in distress were held.

She has borderline personality disorder, which affects her moods

In 2014, aged 21, she started experiencing unbearable suicidal

thoughts and ended up spending the night in a cell.

It is a very frightening experience because you can hear other people

who have been locked up for committing crimes

and they are being vocal, banging on the cells,

and you are already in a distressed state and it just makes you feel

There are calls for more suitable places of safety where people can go

to recover, places like Coed Arian crisis house,

in partnership with Cardiff and Vale health board.

This crisis house in Cardiff is currently the only one in Wales

with private bedrooms, homely living areas

and support workers on-site 24 hours a day.

It's a place of safety and sanctuary where people can come to recover

from their crisis whilst maintaining their independence.

Gofal wants to see the creation of more services like this

93% of people who stay here return home after a seven-day stay,

you can expect to stay for a minimum of a 28-day section.

So this is an environment that for some people supports

a much better and a much quicker process of recovery.

But some experts say more research is still needed on their benefits.

The Welsh Government says spending on mental-health services in Wales

is rising and points to an agreement signed in December between

police forces, charities, the NHS, councils and other agencies.

The idea is to bring these bodies together to improve crisis care.

For Rowan, who could experience a crisis at any moment,

an alternative couldn't come soon enough.

The Welsh Government needs to double the amount it's spending

That's according to a teachers' union here amid claims that many

school buildings aren't "up to scratch".

One Newport headteacher has told BBC Wales that some buildings

The Government has described its record on new school

And despite being judged as Good by Estyn, it's feeling its age,

leaking roofs and windows and abandoned classrooms.

The headteacher, who has improved GCSE pass rates by 60%,

says some of its buildings are deplorable

and blames Newport Council and the Welsh government

for not doing enough to improve buildings like his.

There is a whole generation of school stock that has leaking roofs,

have classrooms which are too small and too cramped.

But this evening, it emerged these plans to improve the school

They were rejected by councillors over fears the site may flood,

but tonight, Newport Council says it is

resubmitting the proposals to build a new Welsh medium school

on the site and refurbish Duffryn high.

The Welsh Government says it is investing nearly ?2 billion

in schools and colleges through its 21st Century Schools programme.

It says it is the most ambitious school building

and improvement programme since the 1960s.

But the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Wales disagree

and want the Welsh Government to increase the amount

They agree with the National Union of Teachers here

that many school buildings aren't up to scratch.

Definitely double the amount we are seeing going in there.

We have got to get school building stock right,

we need to give our youngsters the best start in life

and so that money would be well spent.

So this evening, a glimmer of hope for pupils here at Duffryn High

and for those hoping to attend Newport's first

But unions are concerned that other children across Wales

Parents in Denbighshire have said they will appeal

the council's decision to push ahead with controversial plans

to close Ysgol Llanbedr Primary School near Ruthin.

but the council says the closure in August

comes as part of its review into school provision.

Flintshire Council has agreed to make what it describes

as "unprecedented" savings of ?21 million.

It says it's protecting core services - but they will be at risk

In Gwynedd, councillors have decided to delay making a decision

on closing the David Lloyd George Museum

The number of adults taking part in sport three times a week or more

has increased, according to Sport Wales.

However, the research also showed that a million adults

Women, disabled people and those from deprived areas

are also less likely to play sport regularly.

Welsh singer-songwriter Amy Wadge is celebrating after winning

She picked up a Grammy Award in LA last night for co-writing

Ed Sheeran's hit single Thinking Out Loud.

You know, we are really thrilled for her.

And I think it's testament to the partnership

between Ed and Amy that he shared the stage with her,

shared the limelight and gave her the full credit for co-writing

All change on the weather front. Yes, cold and frosty last night but

a different story tonight and tomorrow, we will all see some rain,

sleet and snow in places. Most places dry at the moment but it

won't last. By the end of the night, much of the country will have rain,

fresh to strong winds were temperatures staying above freezing,

so tomorrow morning, no frost, no sunshine, but cold and wet, some

heavy rain, pool travelling conditions and also some sleet and

snow on the hills and mountains -- poor travelling conditions. The

south-east of England dry and bright, further north and west, a

band of rain, some of that heavy, with sleet and snow on higher

ground, some sniper the Pennines and Peak District. Some sunshine in

Northern Ireland and gradually brightening up across Scotland with

one or two showers. Close to home, more rain and sleet in places, snow

in upland areas. That will gradually ease later on with dry weather

following from the West. Cold tomorrow with the wind easing.

Tomorrow evening, rain and sleet with a little snow in the margins

were gradually clear. Most places are dry overnight with frost and icy

patches. Thursday, a much better day, dry and brighter, some

sunshine, just one or two showers. Friday, all change again, with these

fronts moving in from the Atlantic. They will bring milder, moist air,

some rain turning up on Friday, the wind is picking up as well and that

sets the scene for the weekend, milder temperatures, double figures

on Saturday, but more rain and drizzle on the way. So not a great

day tomorrow, but much nicer with some sunshine on Thursday. We will

be back in breakfast with the latest news and sport from six o'clock

tomorrow morning. Thank you for watching, from all of us on the

programme, good night.