To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any anticipated rise in demand for the treatment of mental health issues in the coming year; and (ii) the steps he is taking to meet this demand.

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) has explored the evidence around the rising demand in mental health care and treatment, and has made a series of initial projections of how this would translate in the Northern Ireland context. It estimates that there will be up to 32% more new referrals to mental health services over the next three years.

A key element of responding to this emerging mental health need has been the development of a new Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, which I anticipate publishing soon. It will set the future strategic direction of mental health in Northern Ireland for the next decade, and will take full cognisance of the impact of the pandemic.

My Department and the HSCB are also working together on the development of a Regional Mental Health Surge and Rebuild Plan, which will outline the proposed approach to medium and longer term planning for managing the surge and rebuild across the Stepped Care Framework in line with the 10 year strategy, together with key actions required over the next 6-12 months to manage increasing referral rates and to prepare for longer term rebuild, reform and redesign. This work will be overseen by a Mental Health Pandemic Response Group which will be chaired by the Department and will comprise colleagues from the HSCB, PHA and HSC Trusts.