Mental Health Policy Alliance Launch
Charities unite in call for action on mental health
A number of Northern Ireland’s leading charities have joined forces to help bring about the much-needed and long overdue changes for the one in five adults and one in eight children who experience poor mental health in Northern Ireland.
We established the Mental Health Policy Alliance so that we could pool our collective expertise, resources, and influence for a more pronounced impact. It’s fantastic to see and hear from so many organisations and individuals here today as we embark on this important work together. It is their expertise and lived experience that will shape and guide our work going forward.
Ellen Finlay, Policy and Development Manager, from Samaritans
The Mental Health Policy Alliance will focus on prioritising mental health, a cross-government approach to tackle mental health inequalities, and ensuring that everyone has equitable access to timely and effective services and programmes. Despite the existence of both mental health and suicide prevention strategies in NI, we still see growing evidence of mental health problems and little improvement in reducing levels of suicide here.
The Samaritans and the Mental Health Foundation co-chair the Alliance, which also includes Action Mental Health, Aware NI, Cause, Inspire, Lighthouse, Mindwise, PIPS, and Start360.
We were delighted to be joined by the Minister of Health at our launch event today, along with representatives from the political parties. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Minister and MLAs in the months ahead to better ensure mental health is a priority. The draft Programme for Government lacks focus on mental health and suicide prevention. We know that mental health problems cost the Northern Irish economy at least £3.4 billion annually, so there is an economic case for investing, as well a moral one.
Karen Hall from the Mental Health Foundation
The Alliance was launched at an event in the Assembly today with guest speakers including the Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O'Neill, policy experts and individuals with lived experience of mental health.
The Alliance’s work will include advocating for comprehensive suicide prevention efforts, ensuring that the voices of individuals and families with lived experience help shape policy decisions and working to focus on prevention, particularly the drivers of poor mental health such as poverty and discrimination.
I have been consistently clear that mental health is of personal importance to me as Health Minister. The Mental Health Strategy is one of the key vehicles for bringing about changes to mental health services across the whole lifespan in Northern Ireland. Good progress has been achieved to date, but ongoing delivery of the strategy continues to depend on the provision of additional and sustained funding. “I am determined to fight hard so that mental health will receive the profile and resources that it rightfully deserves, and I look forward to engaging further with members of the Mental Health Policy Alliance.
Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt MLA
Ellen Finlay, Karen Hall and Siobhan O'Neill
Volunteers and Staff from Samaritans
Mlas signing the pledge board
Mlas signing the pledge board
Mlas signing the pledge board
Mlas signing the pledge board