25 signatures reached
To: Department for Health and Arlene Foster
Increase resources and funding to mental health in Northern Ireland and tackle suicide rates
1. The Department of Health to commit to an increase of funding to mental health services of at least 10% from the £1bn extra funding for Northern Ireland secured by the DUP after the last General election.
2. The current £7m per year allocated to suicide prevention through the Public Health Agency be increased to £21m per year from the £1bn extra funding for Northern Ireland secured by the DUP after the last General election.
3. An effective, sustainable and long-term suicide prevention campaign to begin at the earliest opportunity
Why is this important?
Northern Ireland has the highest suicide rates in the UK but 25% less funding.
In fact, in a recent study of suicide rates and reported on by the Guardian (link below) Northern Ireland has had more suicides in the 20 years since the Good Friday agreement in 1998 than in 28 years during the troubles from 1969 - 1997.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/20/northern-ireland-suicides-troubles-death-toll
We the undersigned find this situation cruel and unacceptable and it has to change. Since Northern Ireland is receiving an extra £1bn in funding we demand that......
1. The Department of Health commit to an increase of funding to mental health services of at least 10% from the £1bn extra funding for Northern Ireland secured by the DUP after the last General election.
2. The current £7m per year allocated to suicide prevention through the Public Health Agency be increased to £21m per year from the £1bn extra funding for Northern Ireland secured by the DUP after the last General election.
3. An effective, sustainable and long-term suicide prevention campaign to begin at the earliest opportunity
How it will be delivered
Hope to present a printed copy of the petition to Arlene Foster and the Cheif Executive of The Department of Health.
