& ofcourse we have a suicide crisis in Belfast

[Guest guest]

Funds 'must stem suicide crisis'

Areas of Belfast have higher than average suicide levels

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4570483.stm

More funding is needed to stem the " crisis " of suicide and self harm

among young people, the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

has urged.

There have been at least 15 suicides in west Belfast in a three-month

period this year with seven deaths occurring in one week in April.

In north Belfast, 13 young men took their lives in two months last

year.

Nigel said there was a crisis in mental health services and

called for resources to tackle the problem.

" I am extremely concerned that the mental health of our children and

young people is provided with the right resources at the right time, "

he said.

It's a national scandal - we urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue

Gerry

North Belfast MLA

'Urgent action' call on suicides

Mr said many voluntary and community groups were providing

valuable and much-needed services but he was concerned at the lack of

resources.

" Too many of the projects in the community which deal with the real

distress felt by children and young people rely on short-term

funding, " he said.

Mr said he organised a meeting in February which brought

about 100 young people together with mental health policy makers.

" The message from the young people was clear: provide the help that

is needed for their peers and don't waste time, " he said.

Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry said more people were dying

through suicide than being killed on the roads.

" It's a national scandal. We urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue - that must be a priority, " he said.

'Funding deficit'

Mr said the government had conceded in recent meetings with

Sinn Fein that there was a £2m deficit in funding for mental health

services in Belfast.

He said that despite this, there was no plan to bridge the gap.

" The budget for mental health services currently only makes up 2% of

the entire health budget.

" This sort of approach is simply not good enough and must change if

we are ever to put together an effective programme to tackle this

issue. "

At the start of April, the first step on convening a multi-agency

group on suicide in the area took place.

The North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said research has shown

a higher rate of mental illness in the trust area than elsewhere in

the province.

It said there were on average 150 suicides in Northern Ireland each

year and that in 2002, the suicide rate for the area was 19 per

100,000 compared to 10 per 100,000 for the rest of Northern Ireland.

[Guest guest]

Funds 'must stem suicide crisis'

Areas of Belfast have higher than average suicide levels

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4570483.stm

More funding is needed to stem the " crisis " of suicide and self harm

among young people, the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

has urged.

There have been at least 15 suicides in west Belfast in a three-month

period this year with seven deaths occurring in one week in April.

In north Belfast, 13 young men took their lives in two months last

year.

Nigel said there was a crisis in mental health services and

called for resources to tackle the problem.

" I am extremely concerned that the mental health of our children and

young people is provided with the right resources at the right time, "

he said.

It's a national scandal - we urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue

Gerry

North Belfast MLA

'Urgent action' call on suicides

Mr said many voluntary and community groups were providing

valuable and much-needed services but he was concerned at the lack of

resources.

" Too many of the projects in the community which deal with the real

distress felt by children and young people rely on short-term

funding, " he said.

Mr said he organised a meeting in February which brought

about 100 young people together with mental health policy makers.

" The message from the young people was clear: provide the help that

is needed for their peers and don't waste time, " he said.

Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry said more people were dying

through suicide than being killed on the roads.

" It's a national scandal. We urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue - that must be a priority, " he said.

'Funding deficit'

Mr said the government had conceded in recent meetings with

Sinn Fein that there was a £2m deficit in funding for mental health

services in Belfast.

He said that despite this, there was no plan to bridge the gap.

" The budget for mental health services currently only makes up 2% of

the entire health budget.

" This sort of approach is simply not good enough and must change if

we are ever to put together an effective programme to tackle this

issue. "

At the start of April, the first step on convening a multi-agency

group on suicide in the area took place.

The North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said research has shown

a higher rate of mental illness in the trust area than elsewhere in

the province.

It said there were on average 150 suicides in Northern Ireland each

year and that in 2002, the suicide rate for the area was 19 per

100,000 compared to 10 per 100,000 for the rest of Northern Ireland.

[Guest guest]

Funds 'must stem suicide crisis'

Areas of Belfast have higher than average suicide levels

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4570483.stm

More funding is needed to stem the " crisis " of suicide and self harm

among young people, the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

has urged.

There have been at least 15 suicides in west Belfast in a three-month

period this year with seven deaths occurring in one week in April.

In north Belfast, 13 young men took their lives in two months last

year.

Nigel said there was a crisis in mental health services and

called for resources to tackle the problem.

" I am extremely concerned that the mental health of our children and

young people is provided with the right resources at the right time, "

he said.

It's a national scandal - we urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue

Gerry

North Belfast MLA

'Urgent action' call on suicides

Mr said many voluntary and community groups were providing

valuable and much-needed services but he was concerned at the lack of

resources.

" Too many of the projects in the community which deal with the real

distress felt by children and young people rely on short-term

funding, " he said.

Mr said he organised a meeting in February which brought

about 100 young people together with mental health policy makers.

" The message from the young people was clear: provide the help that

is needed for their peers and don't waste time, " he said.

Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry said more people were dying

through suicide than being killed on the roads.

" It's a national scandal. We urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue - that must be a priority, " he said.

'Funding deficit'

Mr said the government had conceded in recent meetings with

Sinn Fein that there was a £2m deficit in funding for mental health

services in Belfast.

He said that despite this, there was no plan to bridge the gap.

" The budget for mental health services currently only makes up 2% of

the entire health budget.

" This sort of approach is simply not good enough and must change if

we are ever to put together an effective programme to tackle this

issue. "

At the start of April, the first step on convening a multi-agency

group on suicide in the area took place.

The North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said research has shown

a higher rate of mental illness in the trust area than elsewhere in

the province.

It said there were on average 150 suicides in Northern Ireland each

year and that in 2002, the suicide rate for the area was 19 per

100,000 compared to 10 per 100,000 for the rest of Northern Ireland.

[Guest guest]

Funds 'must stem suicide crisis'

Areas of Belfast have higher than average suicide levels

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4570483.stm

More funding is needed to stem the " crisis " of suicide and self harm

among young people, the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

has urged.

There have been at least 15 suicides in west Belfast in a three-month

period this year with seven deaths occurring in one week in April.

In north Belfast, 13 young men took their lives in two months last

year.

Nigel said there was a crisis in mental health services and

called for resources to tackle the problem.

" I am extremely concerned that the mental health of our children and

young people is provided with the right resources at the right time, "

he said.

It's a national scandal - we urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue

Gerry

North Belfast MLA

'Urgent action' call on suicides

Mr said many voluntary and community groups were providing

valuable and much-needed services but he was concerned at the lack of

resources.

" Too many of the projects in the community which deal with the real

distress felt by children and young people rely on short-term

funding, " he said.

Mr said he organised a meeting in February which brought

about 100 young people together with mental health policy makers.

" The message from the young people was clear: provide the help that

is needed for their peers and don't waste time, " he said.

Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry said more people were dying

through suicide than being killed on the roads.

" It's a national scandal. We urgently need a plan to tackle this

issue - that must be a priority, " he said.

'Funding deficit'

Mr said the government had conceded in recent meetings with

Sinn Fein that there was a £2m deficit in funding for mental health

services in Belfast.

He said that despite this, there was no plan to bridge the gap.

" The budget for mental health services currently only makes up 2% of

the entire health budget.

" This sort of approach is simply not good enough and must change if

we are ever to put together an effective programme to tackle this

issue. "

At the start of April, the first step on convening a multi-agency

group on suicide in the area took place.

The North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said research has shown

a higher rate of mental illness in the trust area than elsewhere in

the province.

It said there were on average 150 suicides in Northern Ireland each

year and that in 2002, the suicide rate for the area was 19 per

100,000 compared to 10 per 100,000 for the rest of Northern Ireland.