Video: Derry crisis service will need long-term funding says Health Minister Robin Swann

Health Minister Robin Swann says extra cash will have to be made available to secure the long-term future of the Derry Community Crisis Intervention Service.
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Mr. Swann recently provided £27,000 in bridge funding to allow the suicide prevention service to continue until the end of this financial year. However, he acknowledged work was needed to sustainably fund the service into the future.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton asked Mr. Swann what he was doing to ensure funding for mental health support was provided to the service. He said Derry had “suffered the devastating loss of far too many young people and people of all ages .”

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Mr Swann replied: “In regards to the specifics of the crisis intervention services in Londonderry, I recently approved a £27,000 transformation slippage allowance to the Derry community crisis intervention service to allow bridge funding until the end of March. A multi-agency meeting led by Derry City & Strabane District Council will be required to consider funding options for 2020/21.”

Foyle UP MLA Gary Middleton.Foyle UP MLA Gary Middleton.
Foyle UP MLA Gary Middleton.

He said the Executive’s ‘Protect Life 2’ suicide prevention strategy demanded “timely, accessible de-escalation services for those in emotional crisis or despair.”

“This and a range of other actions in the strategy will be dependent on additional funding being made available. Following the evaluation of the Derry community crisis intervention service, the Belfast crisis de-escalation service and the multi-agency triage teams, we will work further to do that.”