Draperstown-based mental health charity calls for greater government support

A County Derry charity has called for greater government support and funding to help improve mental health support.

S.T.E.P.S. (Suicide-Talking-Education-Prevention-Support), a mental health organisation based in Draperstown, made the call after it emerged that there has been an increase in the number of people dying by suicide.

According to the latest statistics by NISRA, there were 221 registered deaths due to suicide (including self-inflicted injury and events of undetermined intent) in the North in 2023, compared with 203 registered in 2022.

Males accounted for over three quarters of all deaths due to suicide (171).

S.T.E.P.S. promotes community driven supportive approaches to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.

A spokesperson for the charity has revealed that to date its counselling service has seen over 900 people from 62 different towns and villages, ranging in age from four to 88, and yet they receive no statutory funding.

“S.T.E.P.S. feel much more could be done in preventative measures,” said the spokesperson.

“People need to be know suicide is preventative and that there are so many services out there.

“If someone is brave enough to ask for help they need to receive the right help at the right time.

“Our NHS has been underfunded and mental health chronically underfunded. Drastic changes are needed immediately.”
Sara Boyce, Organiser of New Script for Mental Health, said the latest figures are 'deeply concerning' and should be 'ringing alarm bells across the entire NI Executive'. 

“Instead of a reduction in what are preventable rather than inevitable deaths, we are seeing a sharp rise. We know that the impact on families of losing loved ones to suicide is devastating. These deaths also have a much wider societal impact, with an estimated 60,000 people affected each year.  Time and time again, it is local communities and organisations who are the ones doing vital lifesaving work, with little or no resources or support,” she said.

“In early 2020 , families bereaved by suicide, supported by over 300 high profile public figures and organisations, called on the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer to treat suicide as a public health emergency and to show decisive leadership to turn it around. Sadly , those calls were ignored.  

“As it stands, Protect Life 2, the Suicide Prevention Strategy,  lacks ambition,  resourcing, clear targets, measurable outcomes and evidence of its impact.  The Department of Health must now bring a sense of urgency and priority to ensure we have a suicide prevention strategy that is fit for purpose. The Executive also needs to ensure that the Programme for Government includes a focus on suicide prevention, as well as on the drivers of suicide, such as poverty, inequality and discrimination.  Suicide is preventable, but not without real commitment and action. People’s lives depend on it.”