Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase activities aimed at alleviating worry, in particular for people isolating alone, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recognise the effect that social distancing and self-isolation may have on a person’s mental wellbeing. We have published official guidance on mental health and wellbeing online at GOV.UK and are promoting this through the Every Mind Matters online resource. Our guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection also includes tips on protecting mental wellbeing during isolation.
We are working with the National Health Service and Public Health England, service users, academics and the voluntary sector to gather evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts of COVID-19 and plan for how to support the public’s mental health and wellbeing throughout the ‘recovery’ phase.