A copy of the ‘Have your say Belfast’ survey was sent to every home throughout the city recently. The people of Belfast are being encouraged to complete it, so their views can be used in the development of an Emotional Resilience Strategy for Belfast.

The Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) was set up in 2011 by the Public Health Agency (PHA), Belfast City Council and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to address the significant levels of inequality across the Belfast area, including addressing mental health and emotional wellbeing issues.

Encouraging people to complete the survey, Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA, and current BSP Chair said: “This is an important opportunity for Belfast residents to make their voices heard, so please look out for the ‘Have your say Belfast’ survey, complete it and send it back to us. It is vital that the experiences of local people are fed into any plans that are developed to improve their emotional health and wellbeing.”

Community based public information sessions will be held across Belfast to offer additional opportunities for people to respond, initially in north and west Belfast:

• Tuesday 28 August at An Cultúrlann, 216 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6AH, from 7-8.30pm
• Wednesday 29 August at St Enoch’s Hall, Carlisle Circus roundabout, BT14 6AT, from 7-8.30pm

You can register for the information sessions in advance by emailing [email protected], or just turn up on the evening. More information events will follow in south and east Belfast.

Joint-Chairs of the BSP Emotional Health and Wellbeing Group Irene Sherry and John McGeown said: “We really hope that as many people as possible take this opportunity and come along to these community information events. Securing as much participation in this survey represents an important element for the BSP and that is why we want to go to every quarter of the city and get people talking. By extending the survey deadline, we hope to give citizens every chance to get their views into us.”

For further information or copies of the the survey, contact the PHA on Tel: 028 9027 9388 or email [email protected].

Completed surveys should be sent to:

FREEPOST RSZR-KLGL-RJKU

Ms Carrie Crossan

Public Health Agency

18 Ormeau Avenue

Belfast

BT2 8HS

You can also complete the survey online by clicking here: www.haveyoursaybelfast.com.