MLA fears for future of mental health services
By Richard Morgan
An MLA fears Northern Ireland is facing a mental health 'time bomb' as more people turn for help and waiting lists spiral.
Jo-Anne Dobson told Downtown & Cool FM she is witnessing the impact of cutbacks in her own constituency of Upper Bann.
We can reveal in 2013/14, 151,136 people, including children, accessed some form of mental health service in Northern Ireland.
That ranged from presenting at emergency departments, primary mental health care, home treatment and crisis response teams and outpatient appointments.
Northern Ireland has a 25% higher rate of mental health problems than the rest of the UK, meaning one in four of us will experience a diagnosable problem at some stage.
Mrs Dobson, who is the health spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party said mental health needs to be treated in the same way as physical health needs:
"We need to do more for mental health. It's the legacy of the Troubles and it's a ticking time bomb if we don't get real and address issues affecting mental health.
"People have been let down by the department and GPs I know are referring people to the voluntary sector and there are already long waiting lists for those services.
"The Department needs to put the money into mental health and treat it the same as physical health.
A recent report by Queen's University found the actual spend on mental health services by trusts had dscreased year on year.
It also warned it was likely to continue.
Jo-Anne Dobson is calling on the Department to invest more in services:
"I'm not seeing any of the money at the minute and I know the voluntary sector is picking up people where the Department has let them down.
"People need the support because in the long term this will become such a big issue and we can't ignore it for much longer.
"My constituents are taking that brave step coming forward to talk about their mental health and seek help but if the support is not there I'm very very concerned where we go from here without anywhere to turn.
"Those that have been in the system feel their services have been cut and they are getting less and less treatment and they're feeling let down.
In a statement issued to Downtown & Cool FM a spokesperson for the Department of Health said ÂŁ247m was invested in mental health services in 2013/14, which was an increase of ÂŁ7m.
It went on to state the Department was committed to improving services in Northern Ireland.
If you have had an experience with mental illness and want to speak to us about it email news@downtown.co.uk