The NI Department of Health has published a review of the
deliverability of the Northern Ireland Mental Health Strategy's
actions over the next three years.
The Department committed to reviewing the overall deliverability
of the Mental Health Strategy (MHS) 2021-2031 as recommended by
the Public Accounts Committee in its Report on Mental Health Services
in Northern Ireland, published in June 2024.
This report highlighted the substantial funding shortfall against
the Strategy's estimated £1.2 billion cost.
Since its inception, delivery of the MHS has been taking place
within an extremely challenging financial context using existing,
limited, Departmental resources to take forward the 20 actions in
the Strategy that are currently underway.
The review of the deliverability of the MHS highlights that, as
of end 2024/25, only £12.3 million has been allocated to 14
actions within the Strategy, representing just 16% of the funding
deemed necessary for its implementation during that period.
Health Minister said: “The
financial constraints facing my Department are well documented
and, since the publication of the Mental Health Strategy in 2021,
no additional funding has been allocated to support its delivery.
This presents a significant challenge and places considerable
pressure on our ability to deliver to best effect and achieve the
outcomes we know are needed.
“When the Mental Health Strategy was published, it was
with a sense of optimism and purpose. I am personally
disappointed that, halfway into the lifetime of the Strategy, it
has been necessary for my Department to undertake a review of the
deliverability of the Strategy's Actions from 2026-2029. The
purpose of doing so is to provide a focus and to prioritise in
light of the funding constraints we face, whilst recognising that
the Strategy in its entirety is still needed.”
The review, which involved extensive consultation with more than
100 individuals and numerous focus groups, sets out what has been
achieved with the limited funding available to date, as well as
the key areas of focus for the next three years.
The focus for 2026/27 will be on the Mental Health Workforce and
the Regional Mental Health Crisis Service, with both seen as
crucial enablers for broader system improvement.
Strengthening the mental health workforce will include a
particular emphasis on unlocking the significant yet
underutilised potential within the Community and Voluntary
(C&V) sector. A focus on developing regionally
consistent, person-centred crisis services will help to ensure
that individuals in crisis receive appropriate support in the
right place, at the right time.
The review outlines four medium-priority MHS actions proposed for
phased implementation in 2027/28 and 2028/29, relating to mental
health and older people, Digital Mental Health, Child and
Adolescent Mental Health, and supporting individuals with severe
and enduring mental ill health.
Minister Nesbitt added: “This 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.
“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.”
Notes to editors:
- The Northern Ireland Mental Health Strategy: A Review of
the deliverability of the Strategy's Actions 2026-2029 is
available on the Department's website here.
- The review was commissioned by the Department of Health in
March 2025, in response to recommendations from the Northern
Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee.
- It is intended that the Review of Deliverability report
findings will inform strategic priorities from 2026/27 onwards.
- Mental Health Strategy Action Owners will continue to
implement the key activities identified for delivery in
the Mental Health Strategy
Delivery Plan for 2025/26 throughout the remainder
of this financial year.
- Officials will shortly commence planning for the co-design
of the 2026/27 Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan in
conjunction with a broad range of stakeholders across the
Health and Social Care (HSC) system, the Community and
Voluntary (C&V) sector, professional bodies, and service
users and carers and informed by the findings of the review.
