Our hopes for real progress in Northern Ireland鈥檚 Mental Health Strategy have been dealt a blow, as a newly published review by the Department of Health raises serious doubts about the deliverability of its key actions over the next three years.

The , released this week, outlined how widespread underfunding continues to undermine the Strategy鈥檚 ambitious goals 鈥� despite repeated warnings from professionals and advocacy groups about the urgent need for investment.

Lack of substantial and sustained support

The Department鈥檚 findings reflect what we feared: that without substantial and sustained financial support, the long-promised transformation of mental health services may remain little more than words on paper.

When the Strategy was launched in 2021, it was estimated that 拢1.2 billion would be required over ten years to fully implement its vision of a modern, accessible, and compassionate mental health system. However, the Department鈥檚 latest review reveals that, to date, no additional funding has been allocated specifically for the Strategy鈥檚 implementation.

By the end of the 2024/25 financial year, just 拢12.3 million will have been invested in 14 of the Strategy鈥檚 actions 鈥� representing only 16% of the funding originally deemed necessary for this period.

Key goals at risk of delay

This shortfall raises serious concerns about the government鈥檚 commitment to mental health reform and leaves many of the Strategy鈥檚 key goals 鈥� including early intervention, improved crisis care, and support for under-served groups 鈥� at risk of delay or abandonment.

Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, said:

鈥淭his review does not represent a dilution of our commitment to delivering for mental health, but rather a sharpening of our focus to maximise impact within the resources available. Our ambition remains strong, but it must be focused.聽 Mental health remains a personal priority for me. I have been clear that delivering the Strategy requires sustained and additional investment. I will continue to make that case until the ambition so clearly set out in 2021 is fully realised.鈥�

Another missed opportunity

Steve Mulligan, 麻豆原创 Four Nations Lead, said:

"We appreciate the commitment shown by the NI Health Minister to drive forward much needed mental health reform in Northern Ireland. However, we鈥檙e very concerned and disappointed that a strategy with such strong cross-party support continues to be so massively underfunded, when demand for accessible mental health services continues to grow.聽

"Many counselling services, particularly in Northern Ireland's voluntary and community sector, continue to struggle due to lack of investment. This reduces their critical role in supporting the mental health needs of some of the most challenging communities anywhere in the UK, as well as putting many vital services at risk of closure.

"In the context of such extensive funding constraints, we鈥檙e very supportive of the focus on mental health workforce development and on the establishment of the Regional Mental Health Crisis Service.

鈥淔or both priorities, we would like to see greater consideration of the critical role of the counselling and psychotherapy workforce, to better utilise the vast experience and knowledge of our members across Northern Ireland.聽

鈥淲e are calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to urgently prioritise mental health funding and ensure the Strategy does not become yet another missed opportunity.鈥�