Debate contribution: Mental Illness: Reducing Stigma

Debate contribution by Ms Cara Hunter on 21 January 2025.

MLA

Ms Cara Hunter

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

21 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Mental Illness: Reducing Stigma

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4749879

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Mr Speaker will be delighted to know that I have just finished my can of Sprite. I am delighted to speak in this important debate. I thank Órlaithí, most importantly, for tabling the motion. I know that the issue matters very much to her and is close to her heart. In Northern Ireland, one in five of us is on an antidepressant. That means that, out of the 90 of us in the House, at least 18 are on an antidepressant. We all know that mental illness could impact on us at any time of our lives. I want to start by thanking the remarkable mental health advocates across my constituency who serve our community every day in East Derry. I will name but a few: the Olive Branch in Coleraine, the Limavady Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide (LIPS) and, of course, the many men's sheds from Coleraine and Portstewart to Dungiven and Foreglen. We are blessed to have many charities and trusts in my constituency that are committed to tackling those issues. We cannot talk about mental illness in the North of Ireland without addressing the complexity of our past, which was so traumatic. That trauma has travelled through the generations, contributing to high levels of post-traumatic stress, alcoholism and, sadly, domestic violence. It has shaped our homes. To this day, our past shapes who we are. The North's legacy of violence and intergenerational trauma is undeniably linked to higher levels of mental illness in the place that we call "home". The best way for us, as political reps, to serve our citizens with regard to mental ill health is by knowing how traumatised they are due not only to the Troubles but to the lives that they have lived and their childhood experiences. On that, I ask the Minister of Health to look into conducting a Northern Ireland-wide survey of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). I would like to see that. It would be really important. What are ACEs? They include experience of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, substance abuse in the household, mental illness in the household or the incarceration of a family member. Sadly, owing to the complexity of our past, those things are prevalent in our society. We need to recognise the impact of adverse childhood experiences on physical and mental health. We are talking today about tackling stigma. An important part of that is about being led by data and research. It is evidenced that adverse childhood experiences can shape health later in life, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders and unhealthy behaviours. All the issues that I have just mentioned are met with stigma in our society. A survey is badly needed to understand the complexity of childhood experiences that can contribute to mental ill health. Mental ill health affects families across our region, particularly young people. As I mentioned during Question Time, a profound issue is the lack of access to services and assessments and the pressure that that puts on our young people to thrive in an education system that is not built for them and their needs.

Certainly.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Member for his intervention. I absolutely agree with him: mental ill health can affect all aspects of our life at any time. That is especially so when you are a student, which is a difficult time for anyone, and our university campuses should drive home the strong message that mental health support services should be available and should be robustly funded. A huge aspect of the wider social issues that contribute to mental ill health is the lack of available housing. I see the stress that housing stress can put on people who are unable to provide a safe and happy home for their children, despite many efforts to seek housing. I see that at first hand in my constituency every day. Substance abuse and misuse highlights the fact that there is real complexity when it comes to dual diagnosis. People fall between addiction services and mental health support services and are often ping-ponged between the two. Those people are a really vulnerable group in our society, so, when we speak about the mental health strategy, it is so important that we realise the urgency of the issue. Earlier today, I touched on how there is so much financial pressure on parents, with the increasing cost of housing, rates, rent, bills and food. It is really vital that we think about that and about how economic challenges feed into poverty. I got into politics after, sadly, I lost my best friend, Zachary, who died by suicide in 2017. In this job, on a range of issues, I think of him often. I always think, "He really is the funniest person I have ever met and probably ever will meet". There is a sadness and an irony in that, because he was probably the happiest person whom I have ever met, yet he is no longer with us. We should all keep an eye on our friends, family and colleagues and remember that depression is not always obvious. Sometimes, people think, "Am I depressed only if I am experiencing suicidality?". No. If you have been down for long periods and are considering therapy, go for it. Do reach out. People are there, and they are keen to listen. It is so important that we have essential services in place for people bereaved by suicide and for those who have experienced miscarriage. Minister, I know that mental health is a priority for you. I hope that, in the coming months, we will see a well-funded mental health strategy.

957 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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