Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help improve mental health support for parents during and after family court proceedings.

The Government is aware of the impact involvement in family court proceedings can have on the mental health of both the parents and children involved. Family breakdown is recognised as a difficult and often traumatic period in the lives of adults and children and appropriate support for those involved can be of huge value. This support, in the form of mental health services for adults, and for children and young people, is provided by a range of organisations including NHS mental health and community trusts, local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors, and the Government recognises the vital role these services can play in supporting parents and children both during and after family court proceedings.

To encourage separating couples to resolve their issues outside of the family courts, where safe and appropriate, the Government launched the Mediation Voucher Scheme in March 2021. Mediation can be quicker, cheaper and less stressful than attending court, and families can be referred to mediation – and the scheme, where eligible – from court. As of 5 March 2023, the scheme has helped over 15,300 families to access mediation and divert suitable families away from the family courts, reducing exposure to the court procedure for both parents and children.