Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines his Department issues to people with mental health conditions with financial difficulties on accessing specialised support services.

The Department does not issue guidelines on accessing specialised support services for people with mental health conditions who may be experiencing financial difficulties. Where financial difficulties are identified as an issue for a person receiving treatment and care for a mental health condition, signposting already exists in some general practitioner (GP) practices and in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services.

A person who is experiencing financial difficulties or a debt crisis may approach their GP or another health professional to provide evidence of their mental health condition to their creditors to help aid any support a creditor may be able to provide to that person. The Government is currently reviewing the process for GPs and other health professionals completing Mental Health Evidence Forms to support this process.