23/01/2026
💔 We can’t just say "reach out" or "It's good to talk" if there’s no one on the other end.
It is heartbreaking and frustrating to see the continued lack of robust, structured government-funded su***de prevention services, particularly and more so, here in this city Derry/Londonderry where suicidal intervention & professional mental health support services continue to cease due to lack of funding support.
While awareness campaigns tell people to "ask for help," the reality is what we have is often long waitlists, underfunded crisis support, and a system that usually only reacts after a tragedy has occurred.
Awareness is not enough. We need investment and we need an executive that invests in our community in all areas of mental health properly & professionally. I see the impact on the lack and underfunded mental health support week on week, that can impact on someone and I see that impact in my own work daily. This could be a sibling of yours, a friend, a work colleague or a neighbour of any of us at any time. I have experienced what crises support can do for someone with suicidal intentions, in the right hands suicidal crisis intervention saves lives.
Why Community Support is Our lifeline.
When systems fail, our communities become the safety net. Local support is vital because:
Immediate Connection: A neighbour, a friend, or local group can offer presence when a clinical appointment is weeks, even months away.
Reduced Stigma: Community-led spaces allow for honest conversations without the fear of being "processed" by a cold underfunded, understaffed and unqualified system.
Shared Burden: Su***de prevention isn't just a medical issue; it’s a human one. Showing up for each other reminds those struggling that they are seen and valued right now.
This all falls under funding support from the executive, our executive.
What We need:
Direct Funding: Sustainable, long-term government investment in mental health infrastructure and that has been urgently needed for a long time in this city.
Accessibility: Crisis care that is free, immediate, and available to everyone—regardless of postcode, gender or religion.
Community Empowerment: Support for grassroots organisations that provide peer-to-peer healing.
We shouldn't have to fill these gaps ourselves, but until the system catches up, we will continue to hold each other up.
This week has seen many MLA's highlighting the same issue on their social media pages, the same MLA's that have more power, than you or I, to actually do something about it. By the weekend they shall have moved on to pot holes, street lighting, and the usual religious devide squabbling whilst those in need of urgent mental health support continue to feel alone, isolated and unfortunately suicidal. Actual Mental health support is more important than likes on a social media post. It is action to improve and implement mental health support & services we need to see.
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If you are struggling, please know you aren’t a burden. You are a person in a system that needs to do better by you and for you and the time for change, the time to step up and the time to support is today, it was yesterday also, last week too, last month also, last year..I could go on.
I am proud of the service we are building at our Wellbeing Hub, we have amazing, dedicated, professional and qualified Mental Health Counsellors & Holistic Therapists, in house, who care passionately about helping but we, and those suffering in silence, need more help from Government on a major scale, right across this city, to provide what people need and make our services more accessible, for everyone & anyone.
INTERVENTION BECAUSE HOPE CANT WAIT.
(Contact details for those that require immediate assistance in comments section)
