27/09/2018

Report On Children And Young People's Mental Health Services Welcomed

The Department of Health (DoH) and Health and Social Care Services (HSC) are "committed to delivering real and meaningful improvements" to child mental health services.

A spokesperson for the DoH made the commitment following the publication of a report by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY).

The DoH said: "We welcome today's report and it is clear that Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) has invested much effort into this timely piece of work.

"This is a complex and challenging area, where need is continually evolving and demand is increasing. Dedicated colleagues right across the system work tirelessly with limited resources to deliver high quality services.

"However, we know we can and must do better. Through our transformation programme, the Department and the senior leadership team of the HSC are committed to delivering real and meaningful improvements.

"Nowhere is this more important than in meeting the mental health needs of our young people. This report makes a key contribution to this process and we look forward to working with the Commissioner going forward, and indeed with young people and their families, to make improvements and deliver better services."

(MH/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 September 2021
£8.7m Boost For Mental Health Services
Charitable and community mental health services are set to benefit from a new £8.7 million support grant, Health Minister Robin Swann has announced.
29 June 2022
Mental Health Service Waiting Times 'Deeply Concerning'
Sinn Féin have said that the number of children and young people waiting on referrals for mental health services is "deeply concerning". The party's spokesperson for Mental Health, MLA Órlaithí Flynn, was speaking after figures showed that 557 young people are waiting for a referral in the Belfast Trust, while two Trusts did not have records.
20 June 2019
Waiting Lists For Mental Health Services Rise
An Ulster Unionist MLA has warned that growing delays in accessing mental health treatment could be damaging for children and young people in Northern Ireland.
19 May 2003
Hospital modernisation needs further development
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Des Browne has today called on the Chairmen of the four Health and Social Services Boards to develop their local plans for the modernisation of hospital services following his announcement on ‘Developing Better Services’ in February.
07 March 2019
Student Mental Health Services Allocated £150k
Student mental health services in Belfast are set to benefit from a first of its kind pilot project worth £150,000.