Call for action as doctor warns of mental health epidemic in NI
Front-line GP says more investment is needed urgently
Last updated 15th Sep 2017
A top doctor warned today of a possible mental health “epidemic” looming across Northern Ireland.
Dr Michael McKenna, who has been working on the frontline of general practice, for more than 20 years, branded services here to deal with the crisis “Cinderella services”.
“They are forgotten about,” he told Downtown & Cool FM.
The west Belfast GP said there was a particular problem with waiting times for an urgent mental health appointment which he said was currently around four months.
He said urgent investment in the service was needed.
“I probably deal with someone who is thinking about suicide nearly every day of the week,” he added.
“There will be varying degrees of that – from the people who you absolutely cannot guarantee to keep safe to the ones who can have a plan of action worked out that will help deal with how they are feeling until such times as you can get sufficient help to them.”
Dr McKenna was speaking to us as part of our ‘Suicide Invest in Life’ campaign.
“Mental health difficulties are really prevalent and the statistics back that up with one in four people in their lifetime experiencing a mental health problem,” he said.
“In terms of how translates of what we see as gps on a day to day basis about 20% of our consultations will have a mental health related problem every day.”