Turning Point NI warns of funding challenges and closure risk amid soaring demand for mental health support

A Ballymena-based mental health charity that has supported nearly 1,500 people in crisis in recent years has warned that it may be forced to close within months unless sustainable government funding is secured.

Turning Point NI, a community crisis intervention and mental health hub founded in 2015 within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT), plays a critical role in supporting individuals experiencing mental health crises across Mid and East Antrim.

Its mission is “to improve accessibility to support services informed by the needs of the community” and to “promote positive mental wellbeing in the community.”

Operating with a small team, the charity provides four streams of support — Crisis Intervention (with a 24-hour turnaround), One-to-One Counselling, Family Support, and Young People Counselling (11+) — as well as specialised help for families bereaved by suicide.

Rising need in a community under pressure

Turning Point NI’s services are particularly vital in areas such as Ballymena South, which ranks among the top 25% most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.

Statistical evidence shows that Northern Ireland has higher suicide rates than any other part of the UK, with male suicides increasing steadily over the past 30 years — trends that the charity says underscore the urgent need for early, community-based intervention.

“Our focus is on the most vulnerable segments of the population in the Mid and East Antrim area,” a spokesperson explained.

“The data highlights the pressing need for effective mental health support tailored to the unique challenges in these communities.”

Over the past four years, Turning Point NI has provided crisis intervention and support to 1,476 people — work the charity says has saved the health service more than £400,000 by preventing harm and reducing reliance on emergency or inpatient care.

These figures demonstrate both a consistent rise in demand and a growing level of trust from statutory bodies and individuals across the Northern Trust area.

Funding uncertainty threatens future

Despite the proven success of its work, Turning Point NI has never received direct Stormont Department funding, relying instead on grants and donations — including support from the National Lottery, which ended in March 2025.

Director Tudi Power said that without urgent intervention, the charity’s ability to provide free, life-saving support could soon come to an end.

“As a charity, we rely heavily on grants and donations to continue providing free and accessible mental health support to those who need it most,” Ms Power told Love Ballymena.

“Many of our referrals come directly from statutory bodies, highlighting the crucial role Turning Point NI plays in bridging the gap between community needs and statutory services.”

Ms Power said the charity’s reserve funds are expected to last only another three months, with demand continuing to rise and a waiting list of more than 90 people seeking help.

“Currently, our waiting list stands at over 90 clients, while our dedicated team provides support to around 40 clients each week,” she said.

“Without sustainable government support, the future of our free mental health services remains uncertain, despite the growing demand and clear need within our community.”

Political backing for urgent action

North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has echoed the charity’s concerns, warning that Turning Point NI faces the same risks that led to the closure of Extern’s community crisis intervention service in the north-west earlier this year.

Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday (October 14), Mr Gaston said:

“Turning Point NI, which is a Ballymena-based charity in my constituency, also does vital work in crisis intervention. It faces the very same issues that led to the demise of the Extern service, yet it remains similarly unfunded and, regrettably, has never received monetary support from a Stormont Department despite lobbying from MLAs and even a visit from the Health Minister.”

He added that the charity’s four years of crisis response work — 1,476 referrals delivered at a cost of £400,000 — shows the value for money and life-saving impact of grassroots mental health provision.

“I again repeat my calls for Turning Point NI to be granted some of the resource that others have got, lest it suffers a similar fate to the group at the heart of the motion today.”

Mr Gaston said other funders such as the National Lottery have now stopped supporting “tier 3 and tier 4” crisis work — the most critical and immediate interventions — making departmental support more essential than ever.

“Northern Ireland has many organisations that work tirelessly every day, literally saving lives through crisis intervention,” he said. “It is high time that the Health Minister found a lasting, strategic way to fund those organisations’ efforts at the very heart of our communities.”

The cost of inaction

Turning Point NI warned that the “cost of doing nothing” extends far beyond finances.

The charity estimates that poor mental health costs Northern Ireland around £3.4 million each year, but the human cost is far greater — including loss of life, suffering in silence, and families left devastated.

“The cost of doing nothing isn’t just counted in pounds — it’s counted in lives, broken systems, and communities left behind,” the organisation said.

“Investing in mental health services like Turning Point isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do.”

If you need help

If you or someone you know is in distress or struggling to cope, help is available:

• Lifeline – Free 24-hour crisis helpline: 0808 808 8000

• Samaritans – Call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

• Turning Point NI – For local support in Mid and East Antrim, visit www.turningpointni.org or call 028 2565 0000

All services offer free, confidential support. You do not have to face things alone.

About Turning Point NI

Founded: 2015

Base: Ballymena, operating within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area

Mission: To improve accessibility to support services informed by the needs of the community.

Vision: To promote positive mental wellbeing in the community.

What They Do:

Turning Point NI is a community crisis intervention and mental health hub providing support to individuals experiencing any form of mental health crisis. Its work focuses on suicide prevention, reducing self-harm, and promoting resilience across Mid and East Antrim.

Services Include:

• Crisis Intervention: 24-hour turnaround for anyone in crisis

• One-to-One Counselling

• Family Support

• Young People’s Counselling (Aged 11+)

• Support for families bereaved by suicide

Impact:

• Supported 1,476 people in crisis over the past four years

• Helped save the health service an estimated £400,000

• Currently has a waiting list of more than 90 clients

• Provides support to around 40 clients weekly

Key Challenge:

Following the end of National Lottery funding in March 2025, Turning Point NI now faces a funding cliff edge. Without sustainable government support, its free, life-saving mental health services risk closure within months.