Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people bereaved by covid-19 and (b) people who have turned to harmful alcohol use as a result of that bereavement.

A number of charities and voluntary organisations provide a range of valued services for people experiencing bereavement. The Government is taking a cross-Government approach to address bereavement support, and what is needed to ensure that families and friends of those deceased get the support they need - particularly during this very difficult time. On 22 May, the Government announced £22 million funding to life-saving health charities, £4.2 million of which will be used to support mental health charities and charities providing bereavement support. This funding is part of an overall £750 million package for the voluntary sector announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in April.

Local alcohol services and virtual support groups continue to operate during the pandemic, to ensure people receive the support they need. Public Health England continues to maintain the FRANK website and helpline, which provides a service for people who are concerned about their own or others’ drugs and alcohol consumption. The FRANK website can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.talktofrank.com/