A £500,000 funding injection for a Derry suicide-prevention project will ensure its survival for the next three years.
Health Minister Robin Swann yesterday approved the boost for the Community Crisis Intervention Service (CCIS) which has been operating two years.
It provides a weekend community response to people experiencing social, emotional or other crises and who may be suicidal. Since its launch, it has intervened in 918 emergency cases with people at risk from suicide or self-harm.
Its future was in doubt, it surviving only through short-term funding interventions.
CCIS was established by the Extern social justice charity which provides support to people who are homeless, facing homelessness or dealing with mental health issues.
The new package ensures it can continue its work for the next three years, according to Extern chief executive, Danny McQuillan.
"Since its launch, CCIS has become an impactful and important means of helping reduce suicidal behaviour and deaths by suicide in the Derry city and Strabane council area," he said.
SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan who campaigned for the funding package, said the volunteers and staff at Extern had his respect and admiration.
"In recent weeks we have witnessed evidence of the profound need for a crisis intervention centre in Derry. This service was hard won by citizens here who recognised the need for it and have fought to keep its doors open ever since," he said.