New Derry crisis service for people with mental health issues to go ahead despite concerns from councillors

by Gareth Cross

A new service aiming to support people in Derry with mental health issues is set to go ahead despite a last minute attempt to defer the implementation of the new scheme.

Details of the Community Crisis Intervention Service, which will be piloted over a six month period, first emerged in February of this year.

The pilot service will respond to individuals observed to be in distress and potentially vulnerable and who would in all likelihood come to significant harm through self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

The service is intended to be provided within a neutral venue with fair access.

The University of Ulster has agreed to evaluate the success of the service and any future service would be dependent on the positive outcome of the pilot.

The local council will contribute £40,000 to the pilot scheme while the Western Trust will contribute £10,000.

The Derry News revealed in February that the service was being planned as a 'safe space for people with mental health problems'.

The new service was discussed at the monthly meeting of Derry City and Strabane District council held at the Guildhall on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking at the meeting, Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy said that it was 'doubtless the project could have been better with more funding', but expressed hope that more funding could be found once the service was up running'.

The SDLP’s Brian Tierney told the meeting that his party supported the service, but added he had previously asked for a report on the service to be presented to councillors after concerns were raised at a previous meeting.

However, the independent councillor Paul Gallagher said 'a long list of issues have been raised and none appear to have been addressed'.

He called for greater consultation to take place around the service with statutory agencies and the public.

Cllr Gallagher added that ‘if we down the pilot route we will get it wrong,' before continuing that after waiting years for such a service council could 'afford to wait a bit longer’.

He proposed that council defer voting on the proposal until a report was brought forward addressing the 'wide range' of issues.

Responding, Cllr Duffy said she was 'flabbergasted' at Cllr Gallagher’s proposal.

She added that 'a lot of work' had gone into the service so far and that funding was the issue, not the service itself.

Cllr Tierney the asked if council could go ahead with the pilot while waiting for a report that addressed the issues raised.

He said it was important that council got the service right but that he was 'concerned about stalling the entire process'.

A council officer told representatives that they were happy to address their concerns before the start of a procurement process.

DUP Alderman Hilary McClintock said that every party had their concerns, but that the service 'has to start somewhere'.

Cllr Duffy added that Cllr Gallagher's proposal was 'throwing the baby out with the bath water'.

She said the service had been planned by medical professionals and that they were the experts not councillors.

However, Independent councillor Darren O'Reilly said the decision was 'the most important one council can make'.

He asked what would happen after six months if the pilot service was not a success.

Responding, Ulster Unionist Alderman Derek Hussey urged councillors to 'get on with it' saying that ensuring the service worked was 'surely the purpose of the pilot scheme'.

He said it felt like the deferral was almost a 'barricade' to the service.

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly said that councillors 'wouldn't ask for the price of a house without seeing the plans.'

He told council that some councillors were not sure what they were endorsing and noted that mental health campaigners also had 'serious concerns' over the service.

The SDLP Deputy Mayor John Boyle asked when the service was expected to go live and could the issues be addressed before then.

A councillor officer confirmed that procurement was not expected to start 'before the end of August'.

Cllr Boyle said that councillors would 'want answers within that timeframe'.

The deferral was rejected by councillors and the motion to move forward with the service was passed despite opposition from Independent councillors.