Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is broad consensus that there is the potential for an increase in demand and we are working with the National Health Service, Public Health England and others to gather evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts and plan for how to support mental health and wellbeing throughout the ‘recovery’ phase.

We have released tailored online guidance to help people deal with their mental health at GOV.UK and Every Mind Matters.

NHS mental health services have remained open for business, offering support using digital, telephone and face-to-face approaches as appropriate. We have provided £5 million of additional funding for mental health charities to support adults and children and we have announced a further £4.2 million for mental health charities as part of the Government’s UK-wide £750 million package of support for the voluntary sector.