Championing Mental Health in Fermanagh and Omagh

In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, and in advance of World Mental Health Day, Fermanagh and Omagh Community Planning Partnership hosted a meeting with Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland, Professor Siobhan O’Neill.

The Partnership wanted to reinforce their commitment to supporting the need for full implementation of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 for Northern Ireland 10-year strategy; recognising the significant need for a consolidated effort to reform and transform mental health in NI.

Speaking at the meeting, Professor Siobhan O’Neill advised:

“We have high rates of poor mental health in NI. However, we must not forget mental illness is both preventable and treatable. I cannot underestimate the need for, and value of, early intervention and prevention actions in our mission to tackle mental health reform and transformation in NI. There are around 200 suicides each year in NI with each death costing over £1million, and more significantly, complete devastation to their friends, families and communities.”

She continued, “1 in 5 adults have probable mental illness/ill-health in NI, and 1 in 8 children and young people have thought about or attempted suicide. These figures are very stark. They fundamentally highlight the urgent need for full implementation and resourcing of the Mental Health Strategy in its entirety. The cost of mental illness to NI annually is estimated to be £3.4 billion. The Programme for Government does not have mental health as a priority, despite the fact the strategy for transformation has been prepared, and despite the clear evidence of the cost effectiveness of this work. This year we only have a fifth of the necessary funding for implementing the strategy and the deficit will be even greater next year, in the absence of increased investment. As a result progress is much too slow.”

The Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Planning Partnership Board, Councillor Barry McElduff commented:

“In our meeting, I highlighted the Department of Health’s failure to build the promised, new acute mental health unit in Omagh.

I was pleased that Professor O’Neill has agreed to help champion this cause in her dealings with the Department.

Overall, this important Community Planning Partnership believes that the mental health strategy must be properly resourced and fully implemented to ensure access to high quality local services and crucially early intervention.

We want to support Professor O’Neill’s vision of mental health becoming an all-of-government priority and one which is embedded in our own strategies and plans.”