AQW 20337/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 14/06/2021
Answered On Date: 17/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the various treatment options for people suffering from mental health problems.

Answer:

Mental health services in Northern Ireland are provided through a Stepped Care Framework on the basis of individual assessed need.

Step 1: Self-directed help and wellbeing services.

Step 2: Primary Care Talking Therapies.

Step 3: Specialist Community Mental Health Services.

Step 4: Highly Specialist Condition Specific Mental Health Services.

Step 5: High Intensity Mental Health Services.

The care pathway recognises that access to treatment and care needs to be personalised, recovery orientated and provide the person with the right level of support, stepping up to intensive specialist services as needs require.

A key element of improving service delivery and positive mental health outcomes for people is the implementation of the new Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, which I anticipate publishing in the summer. The Strategy will set the future strategic direction of mental health services in Northern Ireland for the next decade, and will take full cognisance of the impact of the pandemic.