East Derry MLA Cara Hunter
The former deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “I am delighted today to have been elected as Vice Chair of the All Party Group on Suicide Prevention.
“This is an issue that is very close to my heart and the reason I got involved in politics.
“There are few issues that transcend party politics and it is vital that MLAs from all parties work together to tackle our mental health crisis.
“I look forward to playing my part in that.
“There is a mental health and emotional wellbeing crisis happening in our community.
“No part of Northern Ireland is immune.
“Whether it manifests itself through despair, addiction, loneliness, self-harm or suicide, the signs are there that we have a deep rooted problem that needs to be addressed urgently.
“We can’t continue producing strategy after strategy.
“The scale of the problem we’re facing, which has been reflected in the harrowing pain that too many families have experienced over recent years, demands action now.
“I look forward to working with the Minister for Health and the Executive Mental Health Champion to help improve our appallingly high rates of suicide and improve outcomes.”
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