Mental Health

The overall aim of mental health services is to support people with mental health difficulties to live as independently as possible and without stigma in the community. The Trust prioritises the provision of services for those individuals who have been assessed as suffering severe and enduring mental illness whilst seeking to provide advice and support to primary care in the management of less severe mental ill-health.

The delivery of services will be further influenced by the emerging priorities from the DHSSPS Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability and the work to develop a mental health strategy for the EHSSB area.

Key themes already emerging from the above processes include the need for better management of mental health crises, the development of alternatives to hospital admission and the development of assertive outreach services to engage those individuals resistant to involvement with services and non-compliant with treatment and care plans.

North and West Belfast is an area of significant material deprivation and high unemployment. It is recognised that the ‘Troubles’ have impacted on the population of the area to a greater extent than elsewhere. The Ulster University reported in 2000 that there were much higher levels of mental health difficulties among patients of General Practitioners in North and West Belfast than elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

The Trust will continue to place a high priority on working with victims of the “Troubles” of the last thirty years. The Trust will further develop its Trauma Team to target more effectively the continuing mental and physical needs of victims and their families.

We would also wish to enhance our support for Primary Care Services in their management of mental health needs, especially depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders and suicide.