In a major move from the devolved administration, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has published its Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan for 2024/25.
The plan sets out key actions for the upcoming year and details on progress already made. It has been developed in collaboration with:
- Public Health Agency
- Health and social care trusts
- Community and voluntary sector
- Mental health champion
- Service users
Priorities
Some of the key actions being taken forward include all health and social care trusts having community perinatal mental health teams installed, as well as an additional £2m investment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to boost current service levels and reduce pressures.
The department also intends to publish an independent mental health workforce review, with key actions being planned for already. The three-year Early Intervention and Prevention Action Plan is also expected to be completed, with progress made on implementation.
The Northern Irish Government also says it expects to finalise a review exploring how best to engage with the community and voluntary sector while developing mental health policy and provision. The co-design of a five-year implementation plan for the establishment of a regional mental health service, along with a head of service, is also set to be taken forward.
Progress
The 2024/25 plan comes as part of Northern Ireland’s wider 10-year mental health strategy, which will last until 2031. The requisite funding for the actions outlined in the 10-year plan is not currently available which has led to Northern Ireland focussing instead on this type of one-year approach.
The plan says that 19 out of 35 actions within the 10-year strategy have commenced work – the plan also highlights that 12,691 people have benefitted directly from emotional wellbeing workshops. The publication also comes just after health minister Mike Nesbitt extended the appointment of Professor Siobhan O’Neill as Northern Ireland’s mental health champion for another three years.
She said: “At present we are seeing a mental health workforce crisis, our services are struggling to cope with the demand, and many services are facing closure due to the lack of funding.
“This is a key time for the transformation of mental health services and we need to see the full implementation for the Mental Health Strategy, as well as a Programme for Government that prioritises mental health as the foundation for peace and prosperity.”
Mike Nesbitt, health minister for Northern Ireland
Nesbitt said: “Mental health is a priority for me as Health Minister, just as it has been since I was first elected as an MLA in 2011.
“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.
“It sets out a clear direction of travel to support and promote good mental health, provide early intervention to prevent serious mental illness, provide the right response when a person needs specialist help and support, as well as outlining how the system will work to implement these changes.”
He added that additional and sustained funding is necessary for the desired changes in mental health provision to be brought about.
Image credit: iStock
![[Left to right] Prof. Ronan Killeen - Consultant Radiologist at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Andy Wilks - Head of Enterprise Services for Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Edel O’Keeffe - Director of Finance at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Ghada Trotabas - Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Brian Fitzgerald - Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent's Private Hospital with Grania Heal – Country Head for Ireland at Siemens Healthineers, and Rob Ruttledge](/sites/nhe/files/styles/teaser/public/2024-09/Press%20release%20image-24.jpg?itok=gHKP-rtG)
