To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps being taken reduce the stigma of mental health issues.

The reduction of stigma around mental health is a key action within Protect Life 2, the Suicide Prevention Strategy for Northern Ireland.

A range of training and awareness programmes are being delivered to reduce stigma and increase understanding of mental health and wellbeing. These include:

Mindset Adult and Mindset Adolescent Mental health awareness training;

Psychological First Aid;

Stress control;

Mental Health Fist Aid;

Living Life to the full;

Connections –Link Life suicide Awareness programme;

Healthy Me;

Provoking thought

During 2010 – 2020, around £1 million has been invested in 334 programmes within local communities to encourage them to be pro-active in promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through the promotion of the Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing.

Considerable promotion and engagement in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Campaigns have also been delivered including:

Mental Health Awareness Week.

A 5 week joint campaign from September to October entitled ‘Working Together for Mental Wellbeing’ Mental Health Campaign.

Input to the Community Pharmacy Living Well Campaign.

Specific COVID Take 5 messaging resources and toolkits developed and promoted.

‘Mindingyourhead.info’ website containing the new COVID wellbeing hub revamped and updated.

Production of educational resources such as Help is at Hand, Steps to Stress booklet and self-help guides which are widely disseminated.

Development of the HSCNI Apps Library.