Debate contribution: Community Crisis Intervention Service: Closure

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Chambers on 14 October 2025.

MLA: Mr Alan Chambers
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 14 October 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Opposition Business
Heading: Community Crisis Intervention Service: Closure
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5181224

Text

I am pleased to contribute to this important debate. I begin by recognising the deeply held commitment across the Chamber to improving mental health outcomes for our citizens. As the Minister said in the media only yesterday, there is now, thankfully, a much greater awareness and understanding of mental health in the Chamber and across broader society than there was only a decade ago. Few, if any, of us doubt the enormous role that the community crisis intervention service in Londonderry delivered in recent years. That service provided a vital lifeline to many people in distress, particularly in the north-west area. It undoubtedly helped prevent moments of crisis in people's lives from escalating, and it is not an exaggeration at all to say that it likely saved multiple lives. We must view the debate within the broader picture of mental health across Northern Ireland. Our region continues to face the highest rates of mental ill health in the UK — they are 25% higher than those in England — yet our spending on mental health services remains proportionately lower. That imbalance is unsustainable, and the Minister has said so. That is why he continues to press for budget allocations to be based on actual need. When it comes to mental health, our level of need is clear for all to see. However, we cannot ignore or underestimate the financial pressures facing the Department of Health. The difficult truth is that limited budgets mean that some things, no matter how worthy or valuable, do not receive the support that, otherwise, we would dearly love them to receive. While it is deeply disappointing that the CCIS has not been able to continue, I know that the Minister and his Department have had to make extraordinarily tough decisions, given the overall budget shortfall of around £600 million. The over £500,000 of funding that the CCIS received through the mental health support fund was a welcome reprieve, but it was always intended to be a one-off scheme. I acknowledge the Minister's efforts in extending that support through reallocating other small pots of available cash. Services such as CCIS demonstrate the immense value of community-based interventions. We must learn from what has worked and ensure that future models of crisis care continue to reflect that person-centred approach. The mental health strategy 2021-2031 provides the framework for that, with its vision of regional crisis support and home treatment services that are consistent, responsible and equitable. Progressing that vision, even in its now more targeted and focused form, must remain a shared priority across government. I end by recognising the CCIS staff and volunteers who have given so much. Their dedication changed and, indeed, saved lives. The people of Northern Ireland deserve a system that responds to them when they are in crisis, wherever they live and whenever they need help. That must remain our collective goal.

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

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