Posted 25.06.2021 

This week Health Minister Robin Swann published a Consultation Analysis Report on the Draft Mental Health Strategy, which itself was published in December.  

Officials are currently working on strengthening the Strategy to ensure it will provide the reform needed across mental health services. 

Maria Morgan MBACP, Disability Action's Mental Health Counsellor & Connect Well Antrim (Pilot) Project Co-Ordinator says:

This is good news as now more than ever creating awareness of mental health problems and providing mental health counselling to those who need it most is vital.

Through our Connect Well Antrim project, which provides 1:1 mental health counselling support to disabled people aged 65+ in the County Antrim area, we aim to remove loneliness and create better connections; improve confidence and self-worth, personal growth and self-awareness, and improve emotional resilience.

Disability Action's survey 'The impact of COVID-19 on disabled people in NI' undertaken last year showed that 72% of people reported an impact of their social isolation on their mental health and emotional wellbeing. The Connect Well Antrim pilot project aims to go some way to rectifying this.

If you would like to find out more about Connect Well Antrim contact Maria  T: 07483 981220  E: [email protected] or click on the link below to read more.

The Consultation Analysis Report on the draft Mental Health Strategy 2021-31 can be accessed on the Department of Health website at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/mentalhealthstrategy.

Read more about Connect Well Antrim Mental Health Counselling service