Kevin McAteerCovid-19 has presented many challenges since lockdown was imposed in March, creating uncertainty and anxiety, together with disappointment that we were left apart from friends and family. Although the relaxing of restrictions comes as a welcome relief to many, it begs the question: what other obstacles are potentially ahead of us in the immediate future?
Lockdown was never going to be easy for anyone. However, consider the situation presented to someone struggling with their mental health. Someone who was just about tethering on the edge, but holding on due to medication, counselling and social interaction with family and friends. Cue Covid-19, this safety net was suddenly taken away; those on the cusp of a mental breakdown found themselves alone, isolated and extremely vulnerable.
Mental health waiting lists were long before Covid-19
Mental health in Northern Ireland has long been an issue ignored and consequentially underfunded. According to the Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report, Northern Ireland has the highest suicide rate in the UK, with 28 suicides per 100,000 men compared to 11.7 suicides per 100,000 men in England. Among men the rate is highest among those aged between 25 and 29. Among women the rate is highest among those aged between 40 and 49.
Long waiting to access mental health services were also an issue in Northern Ireland well before lockdown. Even before the pandemic, in England and Wales approximately 5,000 people were waiting at least a year to access mental health services, according to an Ulster University report released in March 2019. In Northern Ireland alone, approximately 120,000 people were waiting at least 12 months to access similar services. In other words, pre-Covid, Northern Ireland’s waiting lists for mental health services were around 24 times higher than in England and Wales.
A new Mental Health Action Plan
The Health Minister, Robin Swann, appears to recognise both the existing mental health challenges in Northern Ireland and how these are likely to be aggravated by months of lockdown. The minister recently announced a Mental Health Action Plan, involving the appointment of a Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill. The Action Plan contains 38 actions, including a commitment to producing a mental health strategy with comprehensive funding attached. There is also a specific action plan on dealing with the response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Action Plan also recognises high vacancy levels among mental health nurses, with up to 25% of positions unfilled, demonstrating the challenge of meeting both new as well as existing demand for mental health services in Northern Ireland. The plan suggests that “continued use of technology post-pandemic may help in reducing pre-pandemic waiting lists” and “provide quicker access to quality services for children and young people.” Technology may be part of the solution, but it will take much more to help those who are struggling with mental health problems and unable to obtain the vital services that are beneficial to their recovery.
Keeping mental health on the Executive’s agenda
What happens next? We have constantly seen representatives talk about how they support the improvement of mental health services in Northern Ireland, but we have been left waiting for a major improvement or overhaul of services. An absence of a government for three years meant no action was taken, allowing problems instead to build. With a global pandemic, we are now faced with a much bigger challenge.
Although Minister Swann has now revealed a Mental Health Action Plan, we now need to make sure that it is fully implemented and that it receives the necessary financial support. Actions speak louder than words. Stormont needs to act now and it needs to act fast. With a deep global recession, the pandemic is already creating an ever-growing pile of “things to do.” Rather than making mental health reform an afterthought, Covid-19 should force it to front and centre of the Executive’s agenda.
