“Behind these numbers are people – some of them vulnerable – who are waiting far too long for the support they so desperately need.”
Psychiatrists have warned of a “workforce crisis” facing mental health services in Northern Ireland.
A survey carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists from all five health trusts found that 29% of consultant posts in the region were either vacant or covered by locum doctors in 2025, up from 25% in 2023.
The census also highlighted pressures among speciality and specialist (SAS) psychiatrists, senior doctors who work alongside consultants.
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It found there were 79 SAS psychiatrist posts across Northern Ireland in March 2025, with 52 filled by permanent doctors.
The remaining posts were either vacant or filled by temporary staff, meaning 34% of SAS roles were not permanently staffed, up from around 29% in 2023.
The college said the staffing pressures “come at a time when demand for mental health care is increasing”.
It also warned that Northern Ireland receives less funding per person for mental health services than other parts of the UK.
Dr Julie Anderson, chairwoman of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland, said: “These figures show the true scale of the workforce pressures facing mental health services in Northern Ireland.
“They also highlight how increasingly difficult it is for mental health services to provide consistent, high-quality care for our patients, especially at a time when we’re being asked to do more and more with less, as a result of various initiatives.
“Behind these numbers are people – some of them vulnerable – who are waiting far too long for the support they so desperately need.”
She said early intervention “improves outcomes for individuals and can reduce future pressure on health services”.
Dr Anderson added: “Northern Ireland has historically faced years of chronic underfunding and despite having a greater mental health need, we continue to receive less funding than other parts of the UK.
“At the same time, we still don’t have comprehensive regional data on mental health waiting lists, meaning the true scale of unmet need remains very unclear.
“It’s clear things need to change – everyone should be working together to secure solutions to this continuing workforce crisis.”
The census was conducted by the Training and Workforce Unit of the Royal College of Psychiatrists between May and October 2025. All five health trusts participated in the survey.
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