To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any alternatives to Emergency Department attendance available for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis; and (ii) any steps being taken to improve access to those services.

Implementing the new Regional Mental Health Crisis Service is a commitment in the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, under Actions 12 and 27. My Departmental officials and the Public Health Agency are working in partnership to deliver on both of these actions to develop a Regional Mental Health Crisis Service for all citizens of Northern Ireland.

The components of the proposed regional mental health crisis service are: accessing mental health crisis services, primary care and interagency partnership, community crisis service, mental health liaison service and crisis resolution home treatment.

Future State work has commenced across lifespan services. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has been testing a ‘Hear and Treat’ mental health service as part of its 999 response. The service is currently operational during peak times, with mental health professionals available in ambulance control from 6pm to 2am on Friday to Sunday evenings. This crisis de-escalation service provides a more appropriate alternative to transporting adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis to busy Emergency Departments, offering timely support in a more suitable environment.

A pilot has also commenced with Home Treatment in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to triage and take direct referrals from NIAS as an appropriate alternative to unnecessary Emergency Department attendance for those with mental health needs and not requiring clinical care. Southern Health and Social Care Trust aim to commence a similar pilot triage with NIAS in August 2026.

In the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust the Mater Hospital site has opened the (Patient Assessment and Treatment Hub) PATH for individuals in mental health crisis to be supported in an appropriate environment away from ED.

A Mental Health Liaison and Crisis Response Home Treatment Care Network has also been established, bringing together all key stakeholders throughout the region. The aim of this Care Network is to ensure consistent evidence-based practice, equitable access to care and to improve service user outcomes.

Work is currently underway to develop a Business Case for a Community Crisis Service aimed at providing timely, short-term support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis who do not meet the threshold for Secondary Care mental health services. The proposed model has been informed by a regional mapping exercise and is being developed in line with national and international evidence-based best practice.

The Community Crisis service is intended to strengthen early intervention and prevention, reduce the risk of escalation to more acute services, and support individuals to remain safely within their communities while accessing appropriate care and support.

In order to develop and roll out the Regional Mental Health Crisis Service, additional funding will be required. My officials within the Department are working in partnership to prioritise areas for next steps. This will include standardisation of services and levelling up and roll out of service areas across the region, to ensure more equitable provision to those in need across the lifespan.

In line with the usual process for commissioning of services, any decision to commission mental health crisis services in the future will be based on an assessment of the level of demand for services, and will take place within the context of future budget availability.