‘Suicide strategy must be published and resourced’ – Duffy

THE Department of Health must publish the Protect Life 2 Suicide Prevention Strategy and ensure it is adequately funded to help individuals and communities in crisis, Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy has said.

The party’s health spokesperson was speaking after new research showed that 29.8 per cent of children in the North have a mother with a mental illness.

Said Cllr Duffy: “Promoting positive mental health and proper services is a priority for Sinn Féin.

“We currently have no comprehensive maternal mental health service in the north and this is unacceptable.

“My party has been pushing for the business case for a maternal mental health inpatient unit, to be progressed as a matter of urgency.

“The Protect Life 2 Suicide Prevention Strategy should be implemented and it should be adequately funded to help deliver for those individuals and communities in crisis.

“We need to look at how we can prevent, intervene earlier and support our existing services which are already under so much pressure.

“Sinn Féin has consistently called for emotional resilience to be a key part of the school curriculum to ensure better services and support for all our young people,” added the party’s health spokesperson.

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