Concern on impact of cost of living crisis on mental health across city

Concern has been expressed about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on the mental health of people across the city.

Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Emmet Doyle (Aontú) said: "I have had a rise in the number of calls particularly from parents whose backs are against the wall financially, expressing their concerns that they feel there are less and less avenues of support available to them.

"Many are laying awake at night worrying about how they will pay increased rates bills, energy costs and childcare costs and are unable to access first response mental health services due to the demand there has always been.

"Groups in the city that provide mental well-being services are already stretched and now that there are further cuts to a range of services because of Brexit, their options to look after their mental health are becoming extremely limited.

"Services in the community are fantastic but they need more support.  The Mental Health Strategy has not been adequately funded with Stormont being mothballed and the pressures pile up on communities. We need the institutions back now to tackle the impact of Brexit and to restore funding to much needed programmes throughout the North that support people with poor mental health."