Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the report on Exercise Cygnus identified a need for additional mental health provision during a pandemic.

The provision of mental health services during an influenza pandemic was not explicitly tested as part of Exercise Cygnus.

However, we are committed to supporting everyone’s mental wellbeing, especially during unprecedented events such as pandemics, and have ensured that mental health services have remained open throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic.

We are continuing to work with experts from the National Health Service and from public health to assess what further help and support people might need to maintain their mental health over the next few weeks and months. In addition, we have released tailored guidance to help people deal with their mental health and wellbeing on GOV.UK at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing

We are also promoting this through the Every Mind Matters website.