AQW 6698/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 16/02/2024
Answered On Date: 01/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what steps he is taking alongside other Departments to improve the provision of mental health services.

Answer:

A Cross-Departmental Working Group is in place to contribute to the implementation of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-31 to improve the mental health of people across Northern Ireland. Its purpose is to identify opportunities for greater cross-government and cross-sectoral working to inform Mental Health Strategy implementation.

Part of the remit of the Working Group is to identify existing areas of joined up working and encourage greater collaboration so that services are joined up at local level and to ensure that individuals and communities receive the seamless integrated support they need.

The Working Group last met in November 2023 where a number of areas were examined relating to work ongoing in other Departments which could support delivery of the Mental Health Strategy, particularly around Early Intervention and Prevention.