Ballymena to host public consultation event on Children’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework

Ballymena will next week host one of the first public consultation events on a new framework aimed at improving children’s and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing.

The Department of Health is seeking views on its draft Children’s and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing (EHWB) Framework, which was launched for consultation by the Health Minister in May 2025.

The Framework aims to provide “a consistent system-wide approach to children’s emotional health and wellbeing provision, including for those children who have neurodevelopmental or other related conditions or needs.”

As part of the consultation process, a series of in-person and online seminars are being held to allow the public to learn more about the proposals, ask questions, and contribute feedback.

Ballymena event details

The Ballymena event will take place on Friday 29 August, from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Committee Room 4, County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena (BT42 1QB).

Other in-person meetings include:

• Armagh: 27 August, 10.30am–12.30pm, Boardroom, Tower Hill (BT61 9DP)

• Derry/Londonderry: 1 September, 2pm–4pm, Gransha Park House (BT47 6FN)

• Belfast: 4 September, 2pm–4pm, HSC Building, Linen Hall Street (BT2 8BS)

In addition, a programme of online events will be hosted via Microsoft Teams, with sessions scheduled between 28 August and 15 September.

• Thursday 28th August from 2pm to 4pm

• Monday 8th September from 10am to 12pm

• Thursday 11th September from 2pm to 4pm

• Thursday 11th September from 6pm to 8pm

• Friday 12th September from 10am to 12pm

• Monday 15th September from 6pm to 8pm

How to take part

Anyone wishing to attend either an in-person or online seminar is encouraged to register in advance by emailing the Regional Emotional Health and Wellbeing Team at Regional.EHWB@hscni.net, specifying which session they would like to join.

The Department of Health said:

“These events will provide the opportunity to present information about the draft Framework, answer questions from the public, and encourage participation in the consultation process.”

The consultation will remain open until 26 September 2025, with full details, including the consultation document and response questionnaire, available on the Department’s website: Department of Health – Consultations.

The Department stated that the draft Framework is designed to support commissioners and policymakers “to make the most appropriate decisions based on the best available evidence and intervention models.”