Councillors Collaborate with MindWise to Launch Mental Health Survey

To mark World Mental Health Day, and in partnership with MindWise, councillors from Derry and Strabane District Council and Belfast City Council will be presenting a motion later this month. The motion will initiate an in-depth audit of citizens' existing knowledge of accessing mental health services, their experiences, and needs.

The forthcoming online survey, set to be activated in the upcoming months, will be made accessible to all residents within the council districts.

Dr Gareth Mulvenna, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at MindWise, a mental health charity with a legacy of over 50 years, said, "We are determined to make a meaningful impact this World Mental Health Day. At MindWise, we firmly believe that mental health is everyone's business, and we are committed to utilising all available avenues to support those in need. This survey will provide us with invaluable data, benefiting not only our organisation to support those in our communities with mental health needs, but all stakeholders involved. It will delve into the experiences of citizens within our council areas while assessing the current awareness of available mental health resources."

Dr. Mulvenna further emphasised, "While commendable work is already being undertaken, what makes this project truly exciting is its potential to construct a granular, street-level depiction of mental health requirements and experiences. This will be directly informed by the insights of citizens, placing our elected representatives, ultimately our decision-makers, at the heart of this process."

The proposed motions are scheduled for presentation later this month.