‘A vital service’: Leitrim councillor calls for state funding for North West Stop

Leitrim County Council have passed a motion calling on the Government to provide funding to mental health charity North West Stop.

North West STOP is a community-based organisation offering free counselling services to people of all ages. 

It was established in response to the lengthy waiting times often associated with institutional mental health services, which can leave those in need of help waiting for extended periods.

Cllr Róisín Kenny requested that Leitrim County Council urge the Government to support the charity in its work across Leitrim and neighbouring counties.

“There’s not a family or parish that hasn’t been affected by suicide and the devastation it leaves in its wake. North West Stop provide vital services in the area of suicide prevention and mental health in our county.

“They receive not one cent of funding from the Government because they are a regional and not a national organisation,” Cllr Kenny explained.

Cllr Kenny shared with the chamber a case in which she referred a young man in distress to North West Stop. The charity responded within 30 minutes, arranging a counselling appointment for him the very next day. 

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However, when the man visited his GP the following day, he was informed that accessing counselling services through the HSE would involve a two-month wait.

“I dread to think what could have happened to that young man if he had to wait two months with the HSE,” Cllr Kenny said.

“North West Stop is a vital organisation, picking up the slack in the area of mental health in the county. Despite all this they’re so independent on fundraising from the public.”

Cllr Kenny’s motion garnered widespread support.

“We see the lack of mental health services and if there’s any help that can be given to local mental health services that can react quickly, it’ll be the best way the money can be spent,” Cllr Maeve Reynolds commented.

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