Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of modelling by the Centre for Mental Health which indicates that up to 10 million people in England, including 1.5 million children and young people, will need new or additional mental health support as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic; what plans they have to consult (1) the NHS, and (2) local authorities, about this issue; and what assessment they have made of the funding required to meet mental health support needs.

We are considering the Centre for Mental Health modelling report as well as other relevant emerging evidence as part of our ongoing monitoring of the potential impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

We recognise that there is the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing. As such, we are working with the National Health Service, Public Health England and others, including local authorities to gather evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts of COVID-19.

As part of our plans for the NHS, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, there will be a comprehensive expansion and transformation of mental health services over the next five years with additional funding of £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. Over half of this will go to improving community mental health services and services to help people experiencing mental health crises.