MindWise welcomes Opposition Day motions on Mental Health

Dr Gareth Mulvenna, Policy & Public Affairs Manager at MindWise, welcomed the SDLP’s Opposition Day motions on mental health:

"Securing cross-departmental co-operation on mental health, particularly in funding support for children and young people, is one of MindWise’s top priorities.

Through our work with Executive parties, we’ve driven important initiatives on mental health education and early intervention in schools. Our commissioning of an All-Party Group on Mental Health inquiry report, published in May, laid out key recommendations that must not be ignored.

Northern Ireland’s young people are facing serious mental health challenges, yet only 8% of the overall mental health budget is allocated to their services. This inadequate funding limits access to essential care, leaving many young people without the support they desperately need.

MindWise is committed to working with all political parties to ensure we find a way to build a mentally healthy society.

We were therefore pleased to assist Matthew O’Toole in shaping some of the motions being debated today.

Securing funding for the successful implementation of the Mental Health Strategy should be a top priority for the Executive. Investment now will save and improve lives, while delivering long-term cost savings.

At MindWise, our vision is a world where mental health is everyone’s business, therefore mental health should be every government department’s responsibility."