Video: Health minister visit to Draperstown mental health charity

Stormont Health Minister Jim Wells was given an insight into the wide range of mental health care issues facing a rural community like Ballinascreen.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Oct 2014, 16:40 BST

Jim Wells with members of the STEPS mental health group during a tour of the Polytunnel in Draperstown.

The minister took part in a question and answer session during his visit to the STEPS mental health group in Draperstown, on Thursday.

During the hour-long discussion, he heard of the difficulties which people face accessing proper medical care.

“Suicide is a very worrying situation in Northern Ireland, we had over 300 people who took their lives last year, and I was shocked to hear that 12 people had died by suicide in the Draperstown area over the last 10 years,” he said.

Full story in next week’s Mid Ulster Mail.

Jim Wells Northern Ireland