Leitrim County Council has passed a motion calling on the government to provide funding to mental health charity North West Stop.

North West STOP is a community organization offering free counseling services to people of all ages.

It was established in response to the long wait times often associated with institutional mental health services, which can leave those who need help waiting for extended periods.

Cllr Róisín Kenny requested that Leitrim County Council urge the Government to support the charity in its work in Leitrim and neighboring counties.

“There is no family or parish that has not been affected by suicide and the devastation it leaves in its wake. North West Stop provides vital services in the area of ​​suicide prevention and mental health in our county.

“They don’t receive a cent of funding from the Government because they are a regional organization and not a national one,” explained Cllr Kenny.

Cllr Kenny shared with the camera a case where he referred a young person in distress to North West Stop. The charity responded within 30 minutes and arranged a counseling appointment for him the next day.

However, when the man visited his GP the next day, he was informed that accessing counseling services through the HSE would involve a two-month wait.

“I dread to think what could have happened to that young man if he had had to wait two months at the HSE,” Cllr Kenny said.

“North West Stop is a vital organization taking up the mantle in the area of ​​mental health in the county. Despite all this, they are very independent when it comes to raising funds from the public.”

Cllr Kenny’s motion gained widespread support.

“We see the lack of mental health services and if there is any help that can be given to local mental health services that can react quickly, that will be the best way to spend the money,” said Cllr Maeve Reynolds.

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