North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston
In a heartfelt address during an Assembly debate, North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston lauded the crucial work of Turning Point NI, a local charity dedicated to mental health support in Ballymena.
Gaston highlighted the charity's significant impact over the past decade and underscored the urgent need for continued funding and support.
A Motion Close to Home
Gaston began by emphasising the universal relevance of the motion, noting that every Assembly Member could relate to the systemic failures affecting their constituents.
Drawing from his experience in Jim Allister's constituency office, the North Antrim MLA shared poignant stories of individuals from all walks of life grappling with mental health challenges.
“I regularly encountered people spanning all age groups who were struggling with their mental health for a variety of reasons,” said the local man. “I recall the mother whose primary-school child was self-harming with a pencil in the school toilet and an elderly man who, through failing health, simply lost his purpose and the will to live. I think of the young lad who had fallen into an addiction and the father who, through redundancy, struggled to provide for his family.
“That is the reality of Northern Ireland in 2024.”
Turning Point NI: A Beacon of Hope
Turning Point NI, founded in response to a spate of suicides in Ballymena, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in May 2025.
The charity, which employs nine staff members, has been a lifeline for many, relying on lottery funding and community generosity. However, with its lottery funding set to end in March 2025, the charity faces a critical juncture.
Gaston highlighted the pressing demand for Turning Point's services, with 90 individuals currently on the waiting list for its six- to eight-week programs, many referred by statutory bodies like CAMHS.
Economic and Social Impact
Gaston pointed out the economic benefits of Turning Point's work, noting that the charity's counselling sessions saved the Trust £70,000 last year through statutory referrals alone. Despite this, Turning Point has received no government funding, a stark reminder of the pressures on the community and voluntary sector to fill gaps left by Northern Ireland’s health service.
A Call for Urgent Support
Turning Point NI's message to MLAs was clear: the charity is in a critical situation as it approaches the end of its lottery funding. With rising rates of suicide, substance abuse, and self-harm, the demand for its life-saving services continues to grow, but resources remain limited. Gaston echoed the charity's urgent call for assistance to ensure it can continue supporting individuals in crisis.
In response to the MLA asking the charity what key message it would want shared with the Northern Ireland Assembly, a spokesperson for Turning Point NI said:
"For the past 10 years, Turning Point NI has been a vital resource for our community, providing essential support for individuals facing mental health challenges.
“As we approach the end of our lottery funding in March 2025, we find ourselves in a critical situation.
“We are currently experiencing a mental health epidemic, characterised by increasing rates of suicide, substance abuse, and self-harm among young people. Our waiting list for life-saving services continues to grow, and despite the pressing demand, our resources are severely limited.
“Regrettably, we have not received any government support to address these urgent needs. Therefore, we are reaching out for assistance to ensure that our dedicated team can continue their crucial work in supporting individuals in our community who are experiencing suicidal ideation and mental health crises."
A Plea for Additional Funding
Gaston concluded by questioning how mental health services had reached such a dire state and called for additional funding from the Treasury. He argued that Northern Ireland's failing mental health services and high suicide rates justified the need for funding at £124 per head, compared to £100 per head in England.
The MLA added:
“Once we get funded to that level of need, we must, once again, look to the Welsh model, which was designed by Holtham, where not only has Wales been funded to the level of need since 2012 but it secured an additional 5% uplift in 2018, which has been worth an additional £1.17 billion to cover the additional need.
“That is a huge amount of additional money.
“We must secure the equivalent figure for Northern Ireland and use it to address our unique local need, including tackling the legacy of the Troubles as it relates to mental health and suicide. Unless we get serious and start to fund those services adequately, we will sadly be speaking to motions like this in the many mandates to come."
The speech by the Member for North Antrim highlights the critical role of charities like Turning Point NI in addressing Northern Ireland's mental health crisis and the urgent need for sustained support and funding.
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