Health and Wellbeing

Health and wellbeing services is the largest subsector within the voluntary and community sector with 70% of organisations stating that they provide related services and 25%  providing mental health services.

An enormous variety of work is undertaken to advance health and wellbeing. These include promoting positive mental and physical health, the prevention or relief of sickness, disease or human suffering and administering conventional and/or complementary methods of treatment, including therapeutic, curative or palliative treatments.

The voluntary and community sector plays a vital role alongside statutory services in delivering health and wellbeing services as well as communicating important information about health conditions, including risks, research and the importance of screening for health conditions.

Some charities have a general health and well-being role while others  share specialist knowledge and raise awareness of specific condition as well as providing services related to the specific condition in some cases.

Click here to read case studies that demonstrate the value of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. 

Further Research

Mental Health in Northern Ireland: Overview, Strategies, Policies, Care Pathways, CAMHS and Barriers to Accessing Services  

An evaluation of Mental Health Service Provision in Northern Ireland 

Using the voluntary sector to provide services to children and families with complex needs as an alternative to social work services - what are the benefits and risks? 

Volunteer-led medicines delivery service launches in Northern Ireland 

Review of the Implementation of the Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy (March 2010)

Mental health and illness in Northern Ireland (3): Barriers to accessing mental health services and the role of the voluntary sector