Stakeholder engagement events on the future Protect Life service announced

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is set to hold a number of stakeholder engagement events in the coming weeks throughout Northern Ireland. These will inform the future procurement of services to implement the pending ‘Protect Life 2’ suicide prevention strategy.  

Séamus Mullen, Regional Lead for Mental and Emotional Wellbeing at the PHA, said: “It is really important that people have their say and we would encourage as many as possible to register and come along to the planned workshops in their area.

“This engagement will help provide a basis for what and how services should be designed and commissioned in order to help ensure that they meet local needs.

“We hope to gather a wide range of views that will help shape what and how services should be commissioned in the future.”

Engagement events will take place across Northern Ireland and the PHA wants to gather the views and expertise of as many people and communities as possible, especially service providers, service users, family members and anyone with an interest in the area of suicide prevention.  People will also have the opportunity to input into discussions online at: Protect Life 2 Stakeholder Engagement Survey

 Service models discussed at this stage of stakeholder engagement will only be taken forward to phase two when there is ministerial approval for the new strategy.

The PHA has set out a proposed timeline for the procurement of services funded under the Protect Life 2 strategy, which would result in new services being in place for the beginning of the 2019/20 financial year. 

The workshops will take place at the following locations, and booking is essential:

Southern Health and Social Care Trust area 

Canal Court Hotel, Merchants Quay, Newry, 13 March 10.30am -12.30pm

The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, Dungannon, 13 March 7pm - 9pm

Western Health and Social Care Trust area   

Silverbirch Hotel, 5 Gortin Road, Omagh, 21 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm                 

St Columb’s Park House, 4 Limavady Road, Derry/ Londonderry, 21 March 7pm - 9pm   

Fermanagh House,  Broadmeadow Place, Enniskillen, 29 March 10.30am-12.30pm

Northern Health and Social Care Trust area

Causeway Rural and Urban Network, 1 Brook Street, Coleraine, 22 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Dunsilly Hotel, 20 Dunsilly Rd, Antrim, 22 March, 7pm - 9pm

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust area

FARSET, 466 Springfield Road, Belfast, 26 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm

NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, 26 March, 7pm – 9pm

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area   

Trinity Community Venue, Ballymacoss Avenue, Knockmore Road, Lisburn,

27 March, 10.30am -12.30pm.

Castlewellan Regeneration Ltd, Lodge Building, 1 Dublin Road, Castlewellan,

27 March, 7pm - 9pm

Anyone who wishes to attend one of these events is asked to register by email, providing their name, contact details and preferred venue/ time to Carrie.Crossan@hscni.net