To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) how his Department ensures that mental health services comply with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance; and (ii) whether there are any plans to review the provision of trauma-informed mental health services.

My Department has a formal link with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) under which NICE Clinical Guidelines are reviewed locally for their legal and policy applicability here. Where found to be applicable, they are endorsed for implementation within Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations.

DoH Circular HSC (SQSD) 13/22 sets out process for endorsement, implementation, monitoring and assurance of Clinical Guidelines in Northern Ireland. As there is no dedicated funding source to support the implementation of NICE Clinical Guidelines in Northern Ireland, any resources required are considered against other competing priorities. Nevertheless, HSC organisations are expected to implement guidance as far as possible within existing resources.

NICE have published a range of guidance relevant to mental health. There are a significant number of recommendations contained within each NICE guideline and the extent of implementation varies across Trusts.

(ii) There is no formal review of the provision of trauma informed mental health services currently. However, The Department of Health (DoH) and The Executive Office (TEO) are due to commence an evaluation of Phase 1 of the Regional Trauma Network (RTN). This evaluation will assess service effectiveness, governance, collaboration across sectors, workforce development, and outcomes for victims and survivors.

(iii) The Belfast Trust Mental Health Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) service offers Trauma focused CBT for patients experiencing complex trauma. Therapists work with individuals to reduce symptoms of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related difficulties by helping people process the traumatic event, change unhelpful thinking patterns, and regain a sense of safety and control.

The Regional Trauma Network offer the following therapeutic interventions to those experiencing trauma as a consequence of ‘The Troubles/NI Conflict:

Trauma Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR)

Trauma Focused Counselling

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

Somatic Experiencing Therapy

In conjunction with these therapeutic approaches, the service also offers Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Outreach support.