Debate contribution: Mental Health Data

Debate contribution by Mr Philip McGuigan on 16 February 2026.

MLA

Mr Philip McGuigan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

16 February 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Mental Health Data

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5392060

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

This is an easy debate to wind up on because there has been unanimous agreement. The only point of disharmony has been on the pronunciation of the word "data": without causing any controversy, I will opt for "dah-ta". Alan Chambers said that the asks in the motion are sensible and reasonable, and that just about covers it. The motion addresses a fundamental weakness in dealing with the North's mental health crisis, which is the absence of accurate, consistent and centralised data at a time when the need could not be clearer. Across CAMHS, community mental health teams, addiction services and suicide prevention pathways, demand continues to rise faster than the system can respond.

I concur with my colleague Linda in praising Órlaithí Flynn for pushing, highlighting and promoting this issue and for, sometimes, asking uncomfortable questions. I was struck when she said that there were 290 deaths by suicide last year. That is an unbelievable and shocking statistic. We talked today about that important information, and that was not lost on Members, because everybody spoke about the importance of how we use data to transform our health services and improve the lives of the people we represent. In some cases, hopefully with those 290 people in mind as we move forward, we can save lives among the people whom we represent. The mental health strategy, which, as the Minister pointed out, was meant to provide a decade-long transformation and progress, has been constrained by underfunding relative to the original commitments, and the consequences are plain to see in the services and outcomes across the North. Against that backdrop, poor data is not a technicality but a structural barrier to good care. At present, key information across trusts is fragmented, inconsistent and, in some areas, unavailable. The gaps make it harder to understand demand, plan capacity or evaluate outcomes. That is not fair to service users and their families or to the staff who deliver care, often in challenging and outdated facilities. The mental health strategy recognises the importance of data and outcomes as core enablers, but our system still lacks a single, standardised platform with regular public reporting. I was interested in hearing what the Minister had to say. We all know about the potential of Encompass. We wait to see it achieve its full potential, but I was heartened to hear the Minister talk about that potential. I am disappointed, however, that we will have to wait for a time to see that. As other Members said, other jurisdictions on these islands already regularly publish comparable mental health data. That transparency supports service planning, accountability and public trust. There is no reason why the public in the North should expect less. Poor mental health provision, as we know, does not stay within a silo of the health service. When early intervention is unavailable and waiting lists grow, pressure is displaced on to schools that are managing rising anxiety and self-harm; on to emergency departments, where people in crisis present because no alternative exists; and on to the PSNI and the justice system, which deal with the consequences rather than the causes.

I thank the Member for her intervention. She makes a very valid point. All this is central to the mental health strategy's stated aim and to public accountability. There is great value in exploring where mental health data should and could be gathered and aligned on an all-Ireland basis. Mental health challenges do not recognise borders. Harmonised metrics and data sharing would improve comparability and strengthen early warning for suicide clusters and self-harm trends, and, importantly, it would support research and funding bids. The Minister concurred with the secondary use of data that Kate Nicholl mentioned. That is something that I have asked for, and it would be important on an all-Ireland basis. We could improve our economy using greater research and access greater funding with secondary use of data. The South already has well-established public reporting. Pairing that with data from here would enable better cross-border insight, especially for border communities, into shared risk factors such as rural isolation and youth mental health. All-island alignment would also, as I said, unlock research and innovation. Larger data sets and more robust evaluation of what works in prevention crisis, response and recovery would mean greater learning.

Kate Nicholl approaches most contributions here with a smile, and she was particularly happy today. I think that she really enjoys talking about the subject, but it is an important one and, as I said, we can use it to our benefit not only for patient outcomes but for greater research.

The Minister thanked the clinicians, which is clearly right and appropriate. They provide a service and do their best in difficult circumstances. In my constituency, for example, they are helped by outstanding community organisations that step up every day to provide support to mental ill health sufferers and their families. I record my appreciation of Solas Wellbeing in Ballycastle, whose representatives I met last week. It is an excellent example of a community-based charitable organisation that provides mental health and emotional well-being for the people of Ballycastle, the glens, the Ballymoney area and further afield. It provides positive support to over 5,000 users every year and should be commended. I also thank Turning Point, which operates a mental health crisis hub in Ballymena. It provides drop-in support, counselling and suicide prevention services and is a lifeline for many individuals and families. I give particular credit to Compass Advocacy Network, which is based at Lislagan farm just outside Ballymoney. It provides support and services for people with learning disability, autism and mental health needs. Aware NI, which operates in North Antrim as well, is also worthy of mention. The motion is about giving our clinicians, planners and communities the tools to succeed. The Minister described it well when he talked about having a system and services that are not just there for the benefit of the system but need to be there for the patient. That is what we are talking about today: it is so that services can be planned, delivered and evaluated to the standard that the people whom we represent expect and that exists elsewhere in the healthcare system.

1,046 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:56 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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