Mental Health Emergency declared by Derry & Strabane Council

A motion on the issued was tabled at the Full Council meeting on Thursday night by Aontú Councillor Emmet Doyle, who said: “I think it would be fair to say that we all recognise that this City and District is caught in the grip of a crisis in poor mental health that has manifested itself long before the pandemic. 

“The recent consultation for the Mental Health Strategy for the next ten years makes for stark reading.  Acute in-patient mental health facilities have been operating over and above safe levels, older people do not have access to statutory services despite a huge proportion suffering from depression, and young farmers have identified that poor mental health is one of the biggest issues they face.

“10% of the mental health budget must be ring fenced for child and adolescent mental health, and we must aim for a 30% increase in the per capita mental health spend – and that is not a recommendation from Aontú, rather it is from the interim Mental Health Champion, which our party met with this week.  

“The motion asks you to declare a mental health emergency, but I can’t be clearer, this is not a cry for help for the District, it is not an admission of defeat from those who work on the front line.  Instead, it’s a way for us to demonstrate to those we serve that we understand the pressure they are under, that we in this Chamber are with them and that we will work actively to address the crisis.

“The time has now come for us all to speak with one voice and take into our own hands as much as possible the future of services available to those in this city and district who need support for poor mental health, psychological trauma and long term behavioural disorders.”

Independent Colr. Raymond Barr added an amendment which passed unanimously that the Council write to the Executive to ask for funding to address the need for mental health counselling in the local area. ’

A further amendment was added by Sinn Féin Colr. Aileen Mellon, which was also carried unanimously, that: ‘In addition to this, our Council should actively engage with children and young people to gather their responses so that their views are included.’

SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell said: “Mental Health needs to be given political priority and it needs to be given adequate resources and funding. The North has the highest rates of mental health issues across the UK but it has the lowest rate of funding.”

Another amendment brought by UUP Alderman Derek Hussey was passed before the substantive Motion in the name of Colr. Doyle carried unanimously. 

A working group will now be set up to respond to the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 consultation, lobby for sustainable, funded and accessible services in the city and district and monitor its implementation.

It was also agreed to write to the NI Executive to request that funding is made available for mental health counselling, and to engage with children and young people to ensure their views are included in the Mental Health strategy. 

By Gillian Anderson

Local Democracy Reporter