Calls for investment in Coleraine’s Ross Thompson Unit as demand for mental health support rises

Claire Sugden MLA has highlighted the pressures on the Ross Thompson Unit in Coleraine, describing it as a vital and overstretched service that people across East Derry rely on for mental health support.

She has tabled Assembly Questions to the Health Minister seeking information on the number of people supported by the unit in recent years and how staffing levels have changed over time.

“The Ross Thompson Unit is under constant pressure, with demand for its services regularly exceeding capacity,” Ms Sugden said.

“People are waiting for help they urgently need, and that can’t be ignored. It’s a vital part of our community’s mental health care and needs to be protected and properly resourced.”

Ms Sugden said she would be deeply concerned if there were ever plans to remove or centralise the service away from Coleraine.

“That simply wouldn’t work for the people who rely on it. Rural communities already face barriers when it comes to healthcare, whether that’s transport, digital access or fewer local services. If someone is struggling, they need support close to home. Moving services further away puts help out of reach for many, and it risks people falling through the cracks.”

She also emphasised the importance of keeping mental health support within communities so that family networks can play their part.

“For many people, having a familiar place nearby and loved ones involved in their care can be just as important as the treatment itself. Taking services further away takes that away too and we can’t afford to lose that support.”

Ms Sugden said Ross Thompson remains a cornerstone of mental health provision in East Derry and must be recognised as such.

“It’s not just a unit, it’s a lifeline,” she said.

“We need to invest in it, not question its place.”