Mr. Holbeach says that beyond obtaining justice, he could use the money for private medical care after he was left injured by the bomb. About 5 percent of Northern Ireland’s health budget is spent on mental health, half of the 13 percent allocated in England. Last month, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health published a suicide prevention plan that aims to reduce the number of suicides 10 percent over the next five years, but experts worry that there is not enough funding to fully implement the strategy. A culture of silence around the conflict has also contributed to the issue, as many of the victims are reluctant to ask for help. “It wasn’t safe to speak about so many things,” said Roisin Martin, who worked as a nurse during the conflict.

Source: New York Times December 01, 2019 10:07 UTC