AQW 30803/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any financial support his Department provides to community-based and voluntary organisations that deliver bereavement services for children affected by suicide.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 10 September 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 10 September 2025
- Answer due by
- 25 September 2025
- Answered
- 25 September 202515 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The recently published Protect Life 2 Implementation Plan contains a specific action, 7.2, in relation to the provision of a consistent, compassionate approach to supporting those bereaved/ affected by suicide. The development of recommendations for a regionally consistent postvention service for adults and the development, implementation and evaluation of a regional postvention service for under 18 year olds, are included as deliverables under this action. Scoping for this service is at an advanced stage. I must stress that full delivery of all of the actions and deliverables in the Protect Life 2 Action and Implementation Plans will be subject to the necessary funding being secured.
Funding for bereavement services is currently provided under Protect Life 2 as follows:
| Organisation | Description | Finance |
| Barnardo’s NI | Children & Young People Bereavement by Suicide Support | £347,616 for 12 months (which has been pro-rated to £260,712 for 9 months due to ongoing tendering process.) |
| PIPS Hope & Support | PIPS - Bereavement Support Services Range of services which includes the provision of counselling / art therapy sessions for children and young people. It is not possible to quantify the exact investment in children’s services. | £45,882 |
| Extern | Family Support and Suicide Prevention Response Services & Crisis Response Provide a range of activities for individuals bereaved through suicide and includes 1:1 support for young people up to 25 years old. | £223,501 |
| Lighthouse | Lighthouse Family Support Services Provides 114 hours of Art and Personal Development for children and young people bereaved through suicide. | £3,990 |
| Action Mental Health | Community Counselling Provides counselling to individuals bereaved by suicide which may include children and young people. It is not possible to quantify the exact investment in children’s services. | £288,302 |
The Public Health Agency also fund a small grant programme throughout Northern Ireland. As part of that programme four projects supporting children and families bereaved by suicide have been funded.
| Organisation | Description | Finance |
| Youthlife Inspires | Providing young people who have been bereaved with confidence building and inspiring projects | £5,000 |
| Circle of Friends - Carers Support Group | Provision of creative programmes for individuals who have lost family members through suicide, substance use, road traffic accidents and family breakdown. | £4,365 |
| Recharge CIC | The provision of creative programmes for individuals bereaved through suicide or living with mental ill health. | £5,000 |
| Cruse Bereavement Support | Volunteer Bereavement Training to increase bereavement support within the SEHSCT Area | £4,473 |