New Carrickfergus mental health hub opens as Trust invests in community care

Staff members at Archway Community Mental Health Service pictured with the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has strengthened its commitment to community-based mental health care with the opening of new bespoke facilities in Carrickfergus.

The newly launched Archway Community Mental Health Service, located within the grounds of Carrickfergus Health Centre, provides assessment, diagnosis and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health problems.

The purpose-built premises are designed to offer a welcoming, safe and accessible environment for people accessing support close to home.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited the service this week, praising the Trust’s investment and the dedication of frontline staff working to support mental health recovery within the community.

Speaking following the visit, Minister Nesbitt said:

“Mental health is a deeply personal priority for me, and I am very pleased to see the clear commitment the Northern Trust has shown in improving services.

“The work carried out by local mental health teams makes a significant difference to the lives of so many people in our community every day. They play a vital role in helping people stay well and provide that all-important specialist care, enabling people to remain in the community while receiving treatment.”

During his visit, the Minister also met staff working at Archway, paying tribute to their professionalism and compassion.

Turning to the team, he said:

“I am humbled by what I have seen today. You are so evidently focused on providing the best care possible to every individual that comes through your door. I want to pay tribute to you for your professionalism and dedication, a huge thank you for all that you do.”

Designed around recovery and dignity

Pictured with the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, at the newly opened Archway Community Mental Health Service building, in the grounds of Carrickfergus Health Centre, are left-right, Paddy Graffin (Director of Infrastructure), Jen Hood (Interim Assistant Director Community Mental Health), Roisin Adams (Project Manager), Dr Deborah Miller (Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director for Community Mental Health Services), Joanne Carey (Head of Service, Community Mental Health Team) and Dr Petra Corr (Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services).

The Archway development reflects a broader focus on improving the quality and accessibility of mental health services across the Northern Trust area.

The bespoke design allows mental health professionals to deliver a range of therapeutic interventions, conduct assessments and provide ongoing reviews in a purpose-built setting.

Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services within the Trust, said the Minister’s visit provided an opportunity to highlight both the new facilities and future priorities.

She said:

“We very much welcome the Minister’s visit to our community services in Carrickfergus as it provided an opportunity to discuss our wider priorities for mental health services, while also showcasing our new and improved facilities.

“Creating welcoming, safe and accessible spaces is essential to meeting the needs of people using community mental health services, and plays a vital role in supporting recovery, dignity and wellbeing.

“The bespoke nature of this development allowed us to achieve this. We now have specially designed rooms available that enables the team to deliver therapeutic interventions, complete assessments and provide reviews.”

Bringing teams together under one roof

Pictured at the newly opened Archway Community Mental Health Service building, in the grounds of Carrickfergus Health Centre are Natalie Warman (Locality Manager), Joanne Carey (Head of Service, Community Mental Health Team), Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Dr Pam McGucken (Consultant Psychiatrist).

A key benefit of the Archway service is the co-location of teams who were previously spread across sites in Whiteabbey and Carrickfergus. Trust leaders say this will enhance collaboration among staff while making services easier to access for patients and families.

Dr Corr added:

“The development of Archway has also allowed us to bring our teams together on a single site, having being previously based at Whiteabbey and Carrickfergus. Bringing services under one roof within Carrickfergus, not only supports staff to work more collaboratively, but ultimately improves accessibility and the experience for those using our services.”

The visit also enabled discussions between the Minister and Trust representatives on ongoing priorities for strengthening mental health provision, as demand for community-based support continues to grow.