Time to Bridge the Gaps
This 2025 report quantifies for the first time the true scale of the crisis faced by mental health services in Northern Ireland and sets out a three-year strategy for recovery.
Dr Julie Anderson, chair of RCPsych NI, said:
“Psychiatry in Northern Ireland is at crisis point and it’s clear there is a significant gap between the growing demand for services and the profession’s ability to meet that demand.
"The situation cannot be allowed to go on because it’s having serious implications for patients, mental health professionals and the overall reputation of the profession itself. With unprecedented demand on services we need immediate action to address the current shortfall in psychiatry staffing, however this will not be enough to provide a future-proofed service which is fit for purpose.
“Urgency is the key. That is why we’re looking for a long-term plan to be put in place now – before it’s too late”