14 October 2025
SDLP MLA and Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that the closure of Extern's Community Crisis Intervention Service in Foyle is a devastating blow for people in mental health distress and a stark reminder of the Executive's failure to deliver on its promises.
Speaking after the Assembly debate on the SDLP's Opposition Day motion on the Closure of CCIS, Durkan said the service's collapse represents "a tragic and avoidable failure of Executive priorities" and exposes the chronic underfunding of Northern Ireland's mental health services.
The Extern CCIS - an out-of-hours, community-led support for people experiencing mental health crisis - was forced to close after funding cuts and the absence of a sustainable financial model. Its closure comes amid a wider mental health emergency, particularly in communities already struggling with deprivation and inequality.
Mark H Durkan MLA said:
"The closure of the Foyle Crisis Centre is a tragic and avoidable failure of Executive priorities. This service saved lives. Yet, it was allowed to close because of bureaucratic indifference and short-sighted budgeting.
"While Ministers claim to prioritise mental health, the truth is that 80% of the Executive's own Mental Health Strategy has been shelved because of a lack of funding. That's not just hypocrisy, that's gaslighting. You can't claim to care about mental health while cutting the very services that save lives.
"People in crisis need consistent, dependable support, not fragments of a half-implemented strategy. Mental health isn't the responsibility of just one department. It should be an Executive wide priority, and every Minister, every Department, should be asking how their budget and decisions affect the wellbeing of people here.
“The reality of the closure of the CCIS is that nothing has been done to address structural funding issues, which were flagged by then Health Minister Robin Swann years ago. The consequence of the Executive’s failure to take action is that this life-saving service is no longer available to those who need it in the North West.
“With a multi-year budget soon to be announced, the Executive must work collectively to put the needs of people at its heart - ensuring that every pound spent delivers dignity, support, and real change for those in need.
"The SDLP has called for legislation to ensure that government departments cooperate on cross-cutting issues like mental health, so that solutions are designed around people rather than bureaucracy. We will continue to push for a new approach to budgeting that puts people before spreadsheets and ensures that no one in crisis is ever left without the help they need."