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Sarah Murphy
MS
Official portrait, 2021
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing[a]
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 July 2024
First MinisterVaughan Gething
Eluned Morgan
Preceded byJayne Bryant
Minister for Social Partnership
In office
17 May 2024 – 17 July 2024
First MinisterVaughan Gething
Preceded byHannah Blythyn
Succeeded byJack Sargeant
Member of the Senedd
for Bridgend
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2021
Preceded byCarwyn Jones
Majority4,064 (13.7%)
Personal details
Born (1986-10-20) 20 October 1986 (age 38)
East Glamorgan General Hospital, Church Village, Wales
Political partyWelsh Labour and Co-operative
Residence(s)Bridgend, Wales
Alma materReading University
Cardiff University

Sarah Murphy (born 20 October 1986) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician, serving as Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing[a] since July 2024.

She was elected as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the Bridgend constituency at the 2021 Senedd election with a majority of 4,064.[1]

Early life and education

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Sarah Murphy was born in East Glamorgan General Hospital in Church Village in 1986, and grew up near Pontypridd with her family. She attended Cardinal Newman R.C. Secondary School and Coleg Morgannwg, before studying English Literature at Reading University from 2005 to 2008. In 2016, she graduated from the School of Journalism, Media & Communication at Cardiff University with an MA (Distinction) in Digital Media & Society. She was awarded a scholarship from Cardiff University and a grant from the Leathersellers’ Company Charitable Fund to carry out her studies.

Professional career and trusteeships

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After graduating, Murphy moved to Seoul, South Korea to teach English. She then returned to Cardiff as the Head of Events for Welsh Labour between 2009 and 2012, and then worked in London for a global property development company. In 2017, as the Research Analyst for Lee Waters AM, Murphy developed and implemented the first open-source, online crowdsourcing platform for a Welsh Assembly Member. Following the 2017 general election, she was appointed as the Senior Communications Manager to Anna McMorrin MP, and the then Senior Advisor to the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.

Prior to being elected, Murphy was a Trustee for Brynawel Rehab based in Llanharan, the leading residential centre for the treatment of alcohol and drug dependencies in Wales. She was also the Chair of Sustainable Wales, a charity based in Porthcawl that supports community-based sustainable development. In 2020, she produced the webinar series "Circular Economy: A Design for Life"[2] attended by leading experts from across Wales and the UK.

Digital Rights & Transformation

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From 2019, Murphy focused on social welfare and big data research, primarily for the Data Justice Lab at Cardiff University. She researched UK and international government's use of big data and algorithmic design for public services – with a focus on identifying potential data harms and discrimination against children and families.

Her most recent research contributed towards the findings and recommendations in the white paper: “The Datafied Workplace and Trade Unions in the UK” published by Cardiff University, Data Justice Lab[3] and the European Research Council.[4]

She has written for the Welsh political blog Hiraeth[5] about digital poverty and equal access to the internet.[6]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

On 7 May 2021, Murphy was elected as Member of Senedd for Bridgend.

Prior to being made a Minister within the Welsh Government. Through her committee work, Murphy has worked on inquiries into Debt and the Pandemic,[7] HGV Driver Shortages,[8] Bovine TB, and Minding the Future: the childcare barriers facing working parents.[9] Murphy was also the Welsh Labour representative for the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

Mental Health Awareness

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In May 2022, Murphy made a speech in the Senedd Chamber about her own experience with an eating disorder aged 14, during which, Murphy called for improved mental health services for young people and the establishment of an Eating Disorder Unit in Wales.[10]

Murphy was invited to work with eating disorder charity, Beat to re-establish and Chair the Cross Party Group on Eating Disorders that was previously chaired by Bethan Sayed. Currently, the Cross Party Group has the support of members from the Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru.

In September 2022, Murphy spoke on a panel at the Give Back Yoga Symposium, on the work of holistic medicine to treat eating disorders. [11] Murphy spoke alongside Professor Susan Broderick of Georgetown, Dr. John Kelly of Harvard and James Marzolf PhD, Senior Director at the Whole Health Institute.[12]

Murphy and Huw Irranca-Davies have worked with Bridgend County-wide mental health and wellbeing charities, organisations and groups to co-produce the Bridgend Mental Health Pathway directory website to direct people to support groups and services across the community.[13]

Data Justice and Digital Rights

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Murphy has used her background in social welfare and big data research to draw attention to data justice policy areas within the Senedd Chamber. She has raised questions about the proliferation of biometric data collection within schools,[14] workplace surveillance and workers’ rights[15] online safety[16] and AI.[17]

In 2022, Sarah led on establishing the Senedd Cross Party Group on Digital Rights and Democracy whose aim is the create an open cross party forum to discuss the opportunities and challenges with leading experts and campaigners.[18] The group has previously investigated the introduction of Open Source Software within the Welsh Government and the impact of Police Face Recognition Cameras.[19] She is currently elected Chair of the group. The secretariat was the Open Rights Group. It was closed when Murphy became a Government Minister.

Murphy was interviewed by Labourlist regarding digital rights in the workplace in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak, in which, Murphy said "Digital rights are so crucial – and more and more so – and I would like to see them being seen in that way and prioritised more. That’s what I’m trying to do."[20]

Social Justice and Equality

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Murphy led the 2022 Chwarae Teg LeadHerShip programme[21] which offered women aged between 16 and 22 the opportunity to shadow politicians in the Welsh Senedd. The LeadHerShip programme aims to ensure that women become better represented in such decision-making roles, and provide women with a platform so that their voices are heard and are inspired to see themselves as future leaders.[22]

Local Campaigns

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In December 2021, Murphy hosted the "Porthcawl Regen Dragon's Den"[23] event at the Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl for the community to share ideas for the upcoming Salt Lake Regeneration. A panel of judges, including special guest judge DJ Lee Jukes, gave feedback, and rated the ideas, from local businesses, organisations and societies in a positive and creative way. Murphy was quoted as saying "As your representative in the Senedd, I care so much about hearing your ideas for how this should be done – and the regeneration at Salt Lake should be guided by the community."[24]

Murphy documented her walk from Cornelly village to Cynffig Comprehensive Secondary School in Pyle experience, and raised awareness of, the length of time it takes for children to walk to school in all weather conditions following a number of public meetings with the local community[25] Murphy has also raised this issue within the Senedd and written to Government Ministers to call for a review into learner travel standards.[26]

Murphy is also one of a number of politicians who condemned Zimmer Biomet for potentially closing their Bridgend-based factory and would go on to call for proper consultation to protect jobs. [27]

Ministerial career

[edit]

Following the sacking of her predecessor, Murphy was appointed as Minister for Social Partnership by First Minister Vaughan Gething on 17 May 2024.[28]

Murphy was then appointed Minister for Mental Health and Early Years following a cabinet reshuffle following other cabinet resignations and Gething's announcement of resignation.[29] She retained the role, renamed as Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, under Gething's successor as First Minister, Eluned Morgan, in September 2024.[30]

Since becoming Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy has launched the Welsh Government’s new 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy centred on early intervention and prevention. It sets the ambition for Wales to be the first nation to achieve same-day mental health support, based on a stepped approach. Murphy also spearheaded the Welsh Government Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy to tackle the root causes of suicidal thoughts and to enhance support for individuals experiencing self-harm. The the Welsh Government is investing over £2 million in the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm at Swansea University. [31] On World Suicide Day 2024, Murphy launched a new specialist National Advisory and Liaison Service with the Jac Lewis Foundation commissioned to run the service. [32]

Murphy was also responsible for the launch of the Women's Health Plan, a NHS Executive Strategy which aimed at improving women's experiences of healthcare across Wales. As part of this, GP across Wales have received training on how to spot signs of Endometriosis sooner.[33]As Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Murphy secured funding for waiting times for neurodivergent assessments for children and young.[34]

Murphy has also overseen the rollout of the NHS app re-launch in Wales. [35]

Personal life

[edit]

Murphy lives in Bridgend.

Murphy is currently a member of 5 trade unions, Unite the Union, Unison, GMB, CWU and USDAW.[36] In 2023, Murphy took part in a Hiraeth live event titled 'Trade Unions and Welsh Society' alongside General Secretary of the Welsh TUC, Shavanah Taj and General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch.[37]

Murphy is also the Vice President of the Porthcawl Male Voice Choir.[38] and a member of the Bridgend Rotary Club.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b As Minister for Mental Health and Early Years, from July to September 2024

References

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  1. ^ Bellis, Katie; Burkitt, Sian (7 May 2021). "The full Senedd election 2021 result for Bridgend". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. ^ "SW Circular Economy Webinars: A Design For Life - YouTube". Retrieved 13 May 2021 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Brand, Jess; Murphy, Sarah; Dencik, Lina. "The Datafied Workplace and Trade Unions in the UK" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ Murphy, Sarah. "What do data rights do for workers? A critical analysis of trade union engagement with the datafied workplace". Sage Journals. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Hiraeth". Medium. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  6. ^ Hiraeth (19 June 2020). "Free broadband for everyone! — Not so funny now, is it? — Sarah Murphy". Medium. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Debt and the Pandemic" (PDF). Senedd Cymru. Equality and Social Justice Committee. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  8. ^ "HGV Drivers Shortages" (PDF). Senedd Cymru. Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Minding the Future report" (PDF). Welsh Parliament. Equality and Social Justice Committee. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  10. ^ Jones, Catrin Haf. "BBC". BBC News.
  11. ^ "Give Back Yoga Symposium". givebackyoga.org. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Symposium-Schedule" (PDF). givebackyoga.org. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  13. ^ Murphy, Sarah. "Bridgend Mental Health Pathway". Bridgend Mental Health Pathway. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Plenary 02/03/2022". Welsh Parliament. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Senedd Transcript". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Senedd Transcript". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Senedd Transcript". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Senedd". Senedd. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Senedd Minutes" (PDF). Senedd. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  20. ^ Chappell, Elliot. "How can we fight for digital rights at work? Interview with Sarah Murphy MS". LabourList. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Uniqy Experience to Inspire Young Women into Politics". Business News Wales. Responsible Business News. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  22. ^ jennie. "LeadHerShip". Chwarae Teg. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Bridgend and Porthcawl MS Hosts Regeneration Dragons Den Event to Engage with Community". Bridgend Local. Bridgend Local. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Victory for Porthcawl Residents as Council set to Revise Housing Proposals". Wales Online. Wales Online. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  25. ^ Peskett, Ted. "Parents call for action as Bridgend children forced to walk 40 minutes home in the 'dark, cold and rain'". Wales Online. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  26. ^ Baker, Lisa. "Cornelly parents 'worried sick' pending Welsh Government review on a change to school transport policy". News for Wales. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  27. ^ "Senedd Sketch: Take the money and run". Nation Cymru. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  28. ^ Price, Emily (17 May 2024). "Sarah Murphy replaces sacked junior minister Hannah Blythyn". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Vaughan Gething reshuffles Welsh Labour top team after resignations". The Independent. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Welsh government reshuffle: Miles back as minister after ousting Gething". BBC News. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  31. ^ "https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/articles/wales-ambitious-strategy-reduce-suicide-and-self-harm". National Health Executive. Retrieved 4 July 2025. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  32. ^ "The Welsh Government". “We are committed to providing compassionate support for all those affected by suicide when they need it,” vows Minister. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  33. ^ "GPs to be trained to recognise symptoms of endometriosis earlier". ITV Wales. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  34. ^ Birt, Elizabeth. "Wales: Four-year waits for children's assessments eliminated". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  35. ^ "NHS app re-launched ahead of revamp". Nation Cymru. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Senedd Register of Interests". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Hiraeth". Twitter. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Porthcawl Male Voice Choir". Retrieved 5 September 2023.


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