AQW 10860/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 24/11/2020
Answered On Date: 06/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) to detail the amount of funding currently allocated to deal with student mental health; (ii) what conversations he has had with the Minister for the Economy regarding this issue; and (iii) whether his Department plans to adopt a similar strategy to the Scottish government which, in 2019, announced a £20 million investment over the following four years for student mental health.

Answer:

My Department is not responsible for student welfare budgets, however in 2019/20 the Public Health Agency provided £13,800 for student mental health resources and services. For 2020/21 the PHA has also approached universities for proposals for further funding provision for student mental wellbeing.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Queens University, Belfast and the University of Ulster jointly provide £169k for the pilot student mental health service.

I have not had any discussions with the Minister for the Economy on this issue. All Departments are represented on the Protect Life 2 Steering Group and regular updates are provided from the Department for Economy for the Executive Working Group on Mental Wellbeing, Resilience and Suicide Prevention.

There are no current plans for a similar strategy.