Megan Finn discusses her mental health journey after a psychosis episode during her honeymoon, highlighting the need for better mental health services in Northern Ireland.
After returning home, she was admitted to Craigavon Hospital and then to a mental health center in Belfast. This was Megan’s first experience with psychosis, triggered by stress from the pandemic, wedding planning, and managing her beauty business while raising two young kids.
Now, Megan has recovered and is starting a new job as a peer support worker. She’s grateful for the help from the Early Intervention Service, which supports people under 30 in maintaining good mental health.
Megan’s mental health nurse visits her every two weeks, helping her recognize early warning signs to prevent a relapse. However, she noted that this service isn’t available everywhere in Northern Ireland.
She emphasized that her experience could happen to anyone. The stress from the pandemic affected her business and led to burnout.
Megan described her psychosis as a scary time for her and her family, who had never faced such a situation before. She feels lucky to have received support, as many others may struggle without it.
Mental health care in Northern Ireland is facing a crisis, according to leading psychiatrists. They recently launched a report highlighting the gaps in mental health funding and services.
Currently, only £15.5 million is allocated for mental health, far below the £76.7 million needed. Northern Ireland has the highest psychiatry vacancy rate in the UK, and not enough psychiatrists are being trained due to lack of investment.
The College is urging the Department of Health to take action, including reducing vacancy levels and increasing training opportunities. They want to ensure that community and inpatient services are fully staffed so that no patient in crisis is left without help.
Dr. Julie Anderson, chair of RCPsych NI, stated that the demand for services is growing, but the profession can’t keep up. Immediate action is needed to address staffing shortages and create a sustainable mental health service for the future.
For more information about the Early Intervention Team, visit their website. You can also find more details about RCPsych in Northern Ireland online.
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