Youth workers warn: 'Suicide crisis at its worst ever in NI'

Young people affected by suicide or poor mental health are being urged to attend a crisis meeting on Friday.

Northern Ireland Youth Forum is hosting the event, as staff say the situation in Northern Ireland 'is the worst it's ever been in over 17 years.'

Young people, families and community workers who have experiences of the impact of mental ill health, suicide and self-harm will be among the speakers.

Natalie Corbett is a Participation Development Worker at Northern Ireland Youth Forum:

"I've been a Community Youth Work Practitioner for 17 years and I feel from coming back in the new year, this has been one of the worst times I've seen, in terms of where young people are at and their poor mental health."

MLAs and the Health Minister have been invited to attend in a bid to get a youth perspective on the crisis.

Last week celebrities and sports stars in Northern Ireland signed an open letter to Robin Swann calling for a public health emergency to be declared.

In response a working group was set up to try and help address the crisis.

Natalie told Downtown Cool FM urgent action is needed:

"We are hosting the youth mental health crisis meeting this Friday, 31st of January in NIYF, 6-8 Berry Street.

"Please come along if you feel you have something to say.

"If you've been affected by suicide or self harm there will be a platform for you to share your thoughts.

"We are at crisis point and we want to work together."

Chris Quinn is the Director of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum.

He told us his staff are spending hours in hospitals trying to get treatment for suicidal young people.

"The Christmas and New Year period has been one of the worst I have ever witnessed working in the voluntary sector.

"We should be declaring a youth mental health emergency."

In a letter to health chiefs, he outlined the extent of the crisis:

"We have been in casualty and hospital waiting rooms with young people who despite attempts to take their own lives, are being denied access to beds and mental health support services.

"We have witnessed at first-hand practice that could be described as negligent.

"Over the past number of months, we have laid several young people to rest who have died as a result of drug addiction and suicide.

"The rates of suicide and self-harm are at epidemic proportions and we beg for immediate intervention."

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