A mental health charity which supports 750 men every year will close its doors within a month if it does not secure new funding for its services.
Men’s Action Network NI, based in Derry for the last 30 years, has stopped taking new referrals as it is unable to continue to fund its services for those seeking advice for mental health issues in the North West.
As pressure ramps up on the voluntary sector and funding pots are squeezed, the charity’s coordinator Chris Kerr says the impact of those who use its services will be profound, as waiting lists for other services will now grow.
“Over the years we have seen mental health problems multiply but we are not seeing the same amount of investment to actually tackle it,” Mr Kerr told the Irish News.
“We are a vital part of the fabric of society for men here in the North West.
“During Covid there was a mental health tsunami here and those problems still exist and are in many cases getting worse.
“Unemployment rates are higher here than anywhere else and men are still feeling the effects of that, the cost of living crisis is having an impact on those trying to feed their family and what that does to them.
“How can we turn those people away?”
MAN NI’s services operate seven days a week and include counselling, social housing advice and a wellness hub, all which could be shut in a matter of weeks, Mr Kerr says. He says a business case has been submitted to a number of Stormont departments and other funders to ensure its survival, but to no avail.
“It’s very frustrating for staff, management and our committee,” he adds.
“We will close our doors within four weeks potentially, that’s how serious this is.
“We hope that someone will have the vision to see the damage this will do to men in the local community here.”
