Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) mental and (b emotional health issues among children caused by the covid-19 outbreak.

We have taken steps to protect children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and to support those children and young people who need specialist support now and in the future.

National Health Service mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic and services have deployed digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support. NHS England has also asked all mental health trusts to ensure there are 24 hours, seven days a week open access telephone lines for urgent NHS mental health support, advice and triage for all ages through a single point of access.

Our £8 million ‘Wellbeing for Education Return’ programme is providing schools and colleges with the knowledge and access to resources to support children and young people, teachers and parents.

On 8 September, Public Health England (PHE) launched a mental wellbeing campaign for children and young people. It expands PHE’s Better Health-Every Mind Matters website with content specifically for children and young people and their parents and carers.