NI Mental Health charities warn: 'We cannot afford to wait any longer'
Mental health charities in the north have issued a joint call for the Mental Health Strategy to be properly funded.
The consortium of leading mental health charities issued the plea as they welcomed the UK Government's £343 million investment to establish nearly 200 new community mental health crisis services across England.
The group said that announcement throws into sharp focus the situation in Northern Ireland, where the 10- year Mental Health Strategy (2021–2031) remains significantly underfunded despite widespread recognition of the need for reform.
Renée Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of PIPS Suicide Prevention Charity, said: "People here deserve the same commitment. We have a Mental Health Strategy that sets out the right vision, but without sustained investment it cannot deliver the services people desperately need.
"Every day, we see individuals and families struggling to access timely support, often only receiving help when they have reached crisis point.
“Through our Too Many Lives Lost campaign, we are calling for urgent action to address the gaps in mental health provision in NI. We are urging the Executive to fully fund the Mental Health Strategy and deliver the services that people have repeatedly been promised, but not delivered."
Renée Quinn pointed to the unique mental health needs here following decades of conflict.
"Despite this, we continue to receive the lowest level of mental health funding per head of population in the UK while experiencing one of the highest suicide rates.
"If we are serious about reducing suicide, we must invest in early intervention, community based mental health services and crisis support that people can access before they reach breaking point. Every life lost is one too many, and we cannot afford to wait any longer."