Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
the report The mental health effects of the first two months of
lockdown and social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic in
the UK, published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on 10 June;
and what steps they plan to take in response.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
and Social Care ()
(Con) [V]
My Lords, the noble Baroness raises an important issue, and I am
grateful to the IFS for this thoughtful report. It is too early
to know for certain the mental health consequences of Covid, but
we are deeply concerned about those who suffer from isolation,
young people, those who have fears of economic uncertainty, and
those with existing mental health vulnerabilities. I give thanks
to mental health professionals, who have worked hard during the
epidemic, despite difficult circumstances.
(LD) [V]
My Lords, last week’s report by the IFS reveals how Covid-19 and
the lockdown has had a major negative impact on mental health
across the population, with women and young people particularly
badly hit. Pre-existing inequalities in mental health have
widened yet further. The report states that the scale of
deterioration in mental health is of a magnitude unlike anything
seen in recent years. What immediate steps are the Government
taking to prevent this looming mental health crisis turning into
an epidemic in its own right?
[V]
My Lords, the report is extremely helpful and throws a spotlight
on an issue that we are deeply concerned about. Immediate help
includes a £4.2 million support fund for mental health charities,
and a £5 million fund for Mind, specifically to support charities
dealing with Covid-related mental health issues. We will continue
to invest in mental health in the long term, to support this
important area.
(Lab) [V]
My Lords, four in 10 pupils are not in regular touch with their
teachers, there is a sharp educational divide between the rich
and the poor, one in eight children and young people already has
diagnosable mental health conditions, and the IFS research now
reveals that those groups with the poorest mental health
pre-crisis will see the largest deterioration. Does the Minister
agree that the Government should put the same amount of resource,
energy and imagination that they put into the development of the
Nightingale hospitals, for example, into getting our children and
young people back to school? Will the Minister commit to the
YoungMinds five-point plan, which includes additional support for
young people’s mental health as we move out of the pandemic, to
meet rising demand, including recommitting to the measures
outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, in full, and funding
additional early intervention services?
[V]
My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, raises an important
point on the mental health of young people. A primary concern is
the effect that the epidemic has on young people, at a delicate
stage of their development. However, the return to schools is a
very delicate matter. It requires the confidence of both parents
and young people. We do not want to create further distress or
concern. Therefore, we are taking steps in a thoughtful and
measured fashion, to ensure that both pupils and parents are
confident about the journey back to school.
(LD) [V]
My Lords, research led by Louisa Codjoe at King’s College London
on tackling mental health inequalities found that BAME people are
less likely to contact their GP about their mental health, to be
prescribed anti-depressants or to be referred to a specialist
mental health service. Any failures by the professional health
services lead to fear and mistrust among the community,
perpetuating a cycle of poor access. How do the Government plan
to prioritise access for BAME communities and training for GPs to
overcome these barriers?
[V]
The noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, is entirely right to raise the
issue of attendance. One of the greatest concerns during the
epidemic is the declining attendance at mental health services,
at primary care level and in hospitals. We are working hard on
that. Last week, we launched the first aid kit for psychological
first-aiders. Public Health England has launched this important
resource, and it is indicative of the kinds of measures we are
putting in place to address the inequalities of which the noble
Baroness speaks.
(Con) [V]
My Lords, although it is strange to describe people who are, not
surprisingly, worried about the current situation as suffering
mental health problems, we should be concerned that so many young
people are worried and stressed at present. Will my noble friend
reassure any young people who have exaggerated fears of Covid-19
that they are more likely to be killed by lightning? I expect
that many more young people have justified worries about the
threat to their education and future job prospects. Will he
abandon the physical distancing rule in schools and colleges,
where it is unnecessary, and cut it to one metre elsewhere to
enable the economy to recover?
[V]
My noble friend is entirely right that the fears described as
mental health issues are about not only Covid itself but the
economic and social consequences. The impact on mental health of
the financial crisis 10 years ago was profound, and largely
driven by fears of economic hardship. That is paramount. Reducing
the distancing is not currently government policy, but we have
that under review and news is expected.
(CB)
[V]
My Lords, the CQC reports that deaths of patients detained under
the Mental Health Act have doubled in one year, to 122; 56 of
these patients died with either confirmed or suspected Covid-19.
In the same period, we have also seen the increased use of
restraints and seclusion within secure units. What plans do the
Government have to address and help reduce inequalities, to
prevent further tragic deaths? What steps have they taken to
review these questionable restraint and seclusion practices in
psychiatric hospitals?
[V]
My Lords, the investment we are making in mental health is
profound. Our commitment is to £2.3 billion of extra funding by
2023-24. This is the sort of money necessary to provide the
resources that will lead to a kinder, gentler type of mental
health provision. I hope it will address the issues that the
noble Baroness raises.
(Lab) [V]
Has the Minister made any assessment of the effect on women of
the ending of the self-employment income support scheme, since
the inequalities report says that women still earn less, save
less and are overrepresented in low-income insecure
self-employment, notably in hospitality and leisure?
[V]
The noble Lord is entirely right that the burden on women during
an epidemic such as Covid is probably more profound in some
instances than on men. Women carry a huge amount of the domestic
burden and of the financial concerns for the family. The IFS
report puts a spotlight on the huge pressures placed on women.
That will be a focus for our study and work.
(LD)
My Lords, the Minister said that young people were the
Government’s primary concern, but the Government’s waiting times
and standards guidance of 2015 said that by 1 April 2016 more
than 50% of young people would be treated within two weeks of
referral. NHS England’s statistics for 2019 said that only 15%
were receiving treatment within zero to four weeks and a shocking
25% were still waiting after 12 months. If this is the record
before the crisis, what faith will there be in the Government’s
addressing the problem after the crisis? Will the Minister
apologise for this record of letting so many vulnerable young
people down?
[V]
My Lords, supporting children and young people’s mental health
during and after the pandemic is absolutely a priority. Mental
health providers are offering support using digital and remote
approaches to continue assessment and treatment during social
distancing measures. This is part of the wide range of support
that we are providing. The noble Lord is entirely right that this
area requires a huge amount of investment; we have committed to
making that necessary investment.
(Lab) [V]
My Lords, the Covid pandemic has often been referred to as the
invisible enemy. That is all too often true of mental health
issues as well. Is the Minister aware that the campaign group
Beyond Tomorrow has estimated that 83% of young people have said
that the coronavirus pandemic has made their mental health worse?
Will he guarantee that all young people and families who need
immediate mental health support can get it to prevent the
pandemic having long-term consequences for young people’s mental
health?
[V]
The noble Lord is entirely right to focus on the impact of the
pandemic on young people. It is not yet clear how that mental
health impact will take effect. The natural concern is that it
will be long standing. One thinks back to the major economic
shocks of the past, which often led to long-term mental health
issues for those who found economic insecurity. The struggle to
find jobs left them with damaged confidence and concerns about
the future. With that in mind, we are very much focused on
addressing young people’s mental health and the impact of the
epidemic.
