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 support (a) women and (b) girls with their mental health.
We are absolutely committed to supporting everyone’s mental wellbeing, including women and girls, especially during this unprecedented period. National Health Service mental health services have remained open for business throughout this time, including delivering support digitally and by phone. For those with severe needs or in crisis, NHS mental health providers have established all-age 24 hours per day, seven days a week mental health crisis lines.
Women and girls will benefit from our commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan that 2 million more people will be able to access mental health services by 2023/24. This includes expanding access to specialist perinatal mental health care and mother and baby inpatient services for women with serious mental health issues.