Protest at delay to mental health unit

DOZENS of people braved heavy rain to march through Omagh last week to highlight concerns that the Acute Mental Health unit for the area has been de-prioritised by the Minister for Health.

The event was organised by SOLACE and held in response to the news that the £36 million unit had been shelved in favour of projects east of the Bann.

Among those in attendance were the main organiser of the demonstration, Andy Campbell of SOLACE, as well as local councillors, mental health workers and members of the public.

In a statement, Sinn Fein’s Orfhlaith Begley MP, MLA Nicola Brogan, and Council chairman, Barry McElduff. said they would continue to press the Department for Health on the issue.

“It is also clear that the ability to strategically plan capital investment for Omagh and the other further two planned mental health facilities is being significantly impaired due to ongoing budgetary uncertainty,” they added.

Long-serving advice worker, Johnny McLaughlin, said mental health workers were being overwhelmed by the demand on their services.

“They should not be undermined, disregarded or cheated in this shameful way by faceless bureaucrats. It is the ultimate insult to their endeavours,” he said.

“How anyone could measure such an important need in these tough times in such cold-blooded economic terms just beggars belief. Never before has there been such a dire need for mental health services to be given top priority in government funding allocation.”

Damian Kelly from People Before Profit, spoke from personal experience about the importance of the unit.

“I was placed on a waiting list when I was in a mental health crisis. It was a full year before I received a letter to receive Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,” he said.

“I was lucky that I wasn’t a ‘threat’ to myself, and I was able to manage that year. Many others arent’ able to cope.”

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