Lack of Political Leadership is
sadly playing with People’s Lives
“I would like to commend all Councillors who recently supported a notice of motion which was unanimously passed by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to support calls for the Department of Health to develop and address the need for suicide prevention centres in Northern Ireland.”
“Therefore the decision by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to also now write to the Department of Health Permanent Secretary, Richard Pengelly, urging for the creation of a strategy that will support those with mental health issues by providing the services they need must be of the utmost priority regarding the implementation of a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan.”
“Regrettably the levels of suicide across both the Council district and the North as a whole do not paint a pleasant picture nor seem to be abating. Suicide seems to be all too prevalent, too common a word used and sadly an occurrence within our local communities and society in general with no barriers against age, sex, creed or race.”
“Yet to date it is been largely and predominantly left to charitable, community and voluntary organisations within our District who are providing essential lifesaving services, counselling, help and support to many people who are either vulnerable, suicidal, suffering mental health illness and or addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, as well as both prescription and non-prescription medication.”
“The people who know or avail of the tremendous suicide prevention and mental health awareness services provided by organisations including, MYMY, PIPS and Life Changes Change Life are the lucky ones. But what about those people who have unfortunately slipped through the net and have died through suicide? This question seems to remain largely unanswered by the Department of Health and the paralysed Stormont Executive which is still fourteen months on in a state of paralysis.”
“In June 2016 as a Councillor I brought a notice of motion before Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to write to the offices of the First and Deputy First Minister calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to now urgently prioritise and address mental health and mental well-being as one of the most important health issues currently affecting people of all ages in Northern Ireland.”
“The notice of motion also urged the Northern Ireland Executive to dedicate more resources and funding in conjunction with developing a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan with all major stakeholders including the community, voluntary, and private sector and Ministerial Government departments which can help address and tackle those affected with mental health problems across Northern Ireland.” (06/06/2016 NMD Council minutes reference C/125/2016).
“I specifically brought this notice of motion to Council due to both the ongoing suicides and also the lack of any other coherent strategy which was specifically addressing the issues of mental health illness being associated and intertwined with suicide.”
“However due to the collapse of the Stormont executive back in January 2017 a formal written response to this notice of motion was not finally signed off until 1st March 2017 from the Director of the Executive Office to me.”
“The letter I received merely cited that there was extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement conducted on the draft proposals contained in the draft Programme for Government throughout 2016, but it would be for the incoming administration to consider and agree a new Programme for Government.”
“Therefore without a Stormont Executive together with a five year Programme for Government, which would include a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan or a Health Minister in place to continue to increase suicide prevention funding for people with mental health illnesses or who may be suicidal are being wrongly denied the proper access to mental health services.”
“To be perfectly blunt the Department of Health is haemorrhaging regarding mental health services and suicide. I speak as someone who has lost a younger sibling back in 2001 and over the years lost friends through suicide, so I know personally at first hand the total devastation and void this leaves in many families who have been affected by suicide.”
“There is now a moral responsibility and onus by all political parties to the general public of the North regarding the restoration of Stormont with a fully functioning Executive and a new Health Minister to help pave the way for the full implementation of a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan.”
“There also needs to be year on year increased financial funding and a dual track approach by the Department of Health to also help and assist those organisations providing essential life-saving suicide prevention and mental health support to people seeking their help. Without all of this input as well as the lack of political leadership is sadly playing with people’s lives.”
End 08/03/2018
