Chris Quinn NICCY Interview: NI’s Commissioner Speaks Out on a System “At a Crossroads”
JUSTMENTAL | INTERVIEW In this Chris Quinn NICCY interview, Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People speaks candidly about a mental health system he describes as being at a crossroads, and about what young people across Northern Ireland are actually living through right now. Chris Quinn has spent his entire career in youth work […
Episode 29: Commissioner Chris Quinn NICCY
summary In this episode, Karl Bennett interviews Commissioner Chris Quinn from the Northern Ireland Children’s Commission, exploring the challenges and opportunities in improving children’s mental health services, the impact of poverty, and the importance of early intervention and children’s rights.
The NI schools behaviour review: before the consequence, understand the child
The new NI schools behaviour review, and the appointment of an independent adviser the media have dubbed a “behaviour tsar”, raises important questions we think are worth asking out loud. Education Minister Paul Givan has appointed behaviour expert Tom Bennett to lead a review of behaviour policy and practice across Northern Ireland’s schools, running from [
Childline exam stress support in demand as Northern Ireland results days arrive
The scale of Childline exam stress support tells you something we don’t say often enough: for a lot of young people, exam season is not just tough, it’s genuinely distressing. New figures from the NSPCC’s Childline service show it delivered 1,679 counselling sessions to young people across the UK about exam and revision stress in […]
PSNI mental health call-outs: 189 times to one trust’s units in a year
The scale of PSNI mental health call-outs in Northern Ireland has been laid bare again, and it lands squarely on the argument at the heart of our 107 a Day campaign. Figures released by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in response to an Assembly Question show the PSNI was called to assist staff at inpatient mental […]
Meta Fine for Child Harm: What the $567m Ruling Means
Meta fine for child harm: a $567m ruling, and what it means for the rest of us The Meta fine for child harm handed down in New Mexico this week is being called social media’s “Big Tobacco” moment, and it is worth understanding exactly what a court has now said out loud. On Thursday, a […]
Northern Ireland Mental Health Funding: Where Is Our Plan?
Northern Ireland mental health funding: England builds 159 centres, so where is ours? The gap in Northern Ireland mental health funding has never looked starker than it did this week. On 5 August, the British government announced the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation, for England. A £343 million plan to open […]
Episode 28: Jonathan Kemp
Jonathan Kemp is not only an author but also a mental health advocate who has spent the past ten months walking over 4,200 kilometers to support mental health charities, including Aware Northern Ireland. During our discussion, Jonathan shared his personal struggles with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and dyslexia, which have shaped his life and [
Mother and Baby Unit: The 2029 Deadline Doubts, Revealed
Northern Ireland’s Mother and Baby Unit finally has a confirmed site. It has a costed budget and a government-set opening window. So when JustMentalTalk had the chance to ask two people close to the project whether it will actually open on time, we put the question to them directly. Neither gave back the Minister’s confidence. […]
Episode 27: Dr. Julie Anderson
In this episode, Dr. Julie Anderson discusses the critical state of mental health services in Northern Ireland, highlighting workforce shortages, funding issues, and the urgent need for systemic change. She shares insights on training pipelines, the impact of burnout, and the importance of integrated care for mental health and physical health.