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Written Question
Mental Health Services
Wednesday 21st December 2016

Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what comparative assessment he has made of (a) the level of psychiatric morbidity and suicide rate and (b) expenditure on mental health in Northern Ireland and other nations of the UK.

Answered by Kris Hopkins

The issue of mental health and expenditure on mental health in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Office of National Statistics does however, release regular statistics on the rate of deaths by suicide across the United Kingdom. The statistics can be found at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/previousReleases

Officials from the Department of Health engage with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations on these statistics, and they discuss whether there are areas for learning on tackling mental health problems.

Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Staff
Friday 16th December 2016

Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.

Answered by James Brokenshire

The Northern Ireland Office is able to access a number of services, including welfare support and employee assistance programmes, through our links with the Ministry of Justice. Specific support for staff who have mental health issues include:

  • An independent Employee Assistance Provision that provides confidential counselling sessions for employees, 24 hour telephone support, coaching for managers, mediation and group counselling;
  • Access to an internet Wellbeing Zone which contains wellbeing advice, fact sheets and videos on managing stress, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices. This is also part of our Employee Assistance Provision;
  • An Occupational Health provider that offers medical advice for managers supporting employees with mental health issues;
  • An attendance management system that is aligned with our wellbeing strategy and encourages proactive interventions for employees with mental health issues including prompt Occupational Health referrals with a view to ensuring that supportive measures and reasonable adjustments are identified and implemented promptly;
  • An individual Stress Assessment process; and
  • Toolkits for managers which recognise the links between musculoskeletal illnesses and mental health conditions.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Oct 2016
Oral Answers to Questions

"Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on the day she became Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend said:

“If you suffer from mental health problems, there is not enough help to hand.”

I welcome her commitment to mental health, expressed on that day and in her responses today. What steps is …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions

"rose—..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions

"Last week I was delighted to welcome my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to Faversham in my constituency to visit our largest local employer, Shepherd Neame. There, we heard that having a strong and stable economy is vital for the ongoing success of Britain’s oldest brewery. Does he agree …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 02 Mar 2016
Oral Answers to Questions

"I am sure that the whole House will join me in expressing our condolences to Neil and Jennifer Burdett, the parents of two-year-old Faye, who died on Valentine’s day of meningitis B. Since Faye’s death, 815,000 people have signed the petition calling on the Government to vaccinate more children against …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions