AQW 42921/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 26/02/2015
Answered On Date: 01/04/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister how the Delivering Social Change Signature Programmes are preventing and addressing mental ill-health as a priority.

Answer:

Delivering Social Change is about creating a new culture and focus on cross-cutting work to achieve social benefits that deliver a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues across all ages, with a particular focus on improving children and young people’s health, well being and life opportunities and breaking the long-term cycle of multi-generational problems.

The Delivering Social Change Signature Programmes are part of this process and their social benefits are multifaceted. The Signature Programmes will potentially either help prevent, or address head on, the mental ill-health of our children and young people, and their families.

A range of holistic interventions are being provided, under these Signature Programmes, to encourage re-engagement in education, training or employment to enhance prospects to become full participants in society. These include a series of family support measures for those children, young people and their mothers and fathers vulnerable to, or directly experiencing, mental ill-health.