As part of the Stormont House Agreement (2014), the Northern Ireland Executive made the following commitment to establish a comprehensive Mental Health Trauma Service:
The Commission for Victims and Survivors’ recommendation for a comprehensive Mental Trauma Service will be implemented. This will operate within the NHS but will work closely with the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), and other organisations and groups who work directly with victims and survivors.
(Stormont House Agreement, 2014 – paragraph 27)
This commitment, made in the context of the Agreement’s discussion around dealing with ‘The Past’, refers to recommendations informed by a Comprehensive Needs Assessment published by the Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVS) in 2012. In this research, the CVS identified mental health as the number one priority for victims and survivors and recommended the development of a trauma-focused coordinated service network lead by the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the Executive Office (TEO).
In March 2022 a collaborative design programme commenced, involving all key stakeholders, to design and develop the service including overarching governance arrangements.
Now referred to as a Regional Trauma Network (RTN), the overarching aim of the network is to connect Troubles-focused services across the Trusts and community services to enhance capacity and enable those experiencing psychological trauma related difficulties to access support at the right place at the right time.
Aims/Objectives
The Regional Trauma Network aims to ensure the following:
- Individuals have improved and enhanced access to world leading trauma care.
- Improved collaborative and partnership working between the Health and Social Care Trusts and the community and voluntary sectors to deliver the highest quality trauma care.
- Individuals receive world-leading, effective, and evidence-based trauma care in the right place at the right time.
- Promotion of a culture of continuous learning, research and development to improve services and share expertise.