Renewing Communities boost Mental Health Services

Twenty-four new professional mental health jobs and over 5000 additional counselling hours are being created in the North and West Belfast Trust area.

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Paul Goggins, today welcomed the development, which is part of the Renewing Communities Action Plan, to improve access to and delivery of a range of additional mental health services.

These projects include:

• A dedicated self-harm team which will work closely with the Emergency Departments at the Mater and Royal Victoria Hospital;
• Four additional Cognitive Therapists and enhanced provision of counselling services to support primary care and increase access to talking therapies;
• A new primary care mental health team for children and young adolescents;
• Strengthened support for families through a dedicated Family Therapist and three Psycho-social Intervention Therapists;

Paul Goggins said: "The Renewing Communities Action Plan is aimed at some of Northern Ireland's most deprived communities and makes clear the Government's commitment to tackling the problems they face. The Mental Health Investment project is one of 62 actions in the Action Plan which is about rebuilding confidence, reviving hope and restoring pride.

"These projects recognise the need in North and West Belfast for better provision of mental health services, tailored to specific mental health requirements and delivered in a variety of health and community settings to promote access and provide choice."

(EF)