Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to increase the (a) quantity and (b) quality of online support for teenagers who self-harm during the covid-19 outbreak.

National Health Service mental health services have remained open for business throughout the pandemic. Our community, talking therapies and children and young people’s services have deployed innovative digital tool to connect with people and provide ongoing support. For those with severe needs or in crisis, all NHS mental health providers have established 24 hours a day, seven days a week mental health crisis lines.

We have invested more than £10 million in supporting national and local mental health charities, including CALM and Samaritans, to continue their vital work in supporting people across the country.