Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Paragraph: 72
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the mental health of the whole nation.
Recommendation
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the mental health of the whole nation. New and expectant parents have especially been put under tremendous strain during what is already an incredibly challenging time in their lives. It is extremely likely that there will be a significant increase in mental health referrals from new parents which the Government must ensure that the Health Service is fully prepared for. We are the first generation of legislators with the scientific knowledge of the impact that parental mental health has on the development, health and future outcomes of some of the most vulnerable in society: babies and young children. We must act on this knowledge. The Government should fund and provide additional professional and mental health support especially targeted at this cohort of parents, and their children in addition to its wider plans to significantly expand mental health services provided by the NHS.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges the issue and highlights existing guidance, open services, and ongoing commitments to expand perinatal mental health services by 2023/24, without committing to additional targeted support specifically for new parents affected by COVID-19.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
72
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The Government recognises that parents play a key role in children and young people’s mental health. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. DHSC has also adapted the ‘Every Mind Matters platform’ to include advice on looking after children and young people during the pandemic. This includes specific advice on looking after your own mental health and wellbeing as an essential aspect of being able to support others. In these challenging times, we want parents to be able to seek the help they need. NHS mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic, operating digitally where possible. Most providers are now also offering 24/7, all-age crisis lines for urgent mental health support We remain committed to improving perinatal mental health services for new mothers and their partners—not only during the current pandemic. From April 2019, new and expectant mothers have been able to access specialist perinatal mental health community services in every part of the country. NHS England has expanded the capacity of inpatient Mother and Baby units, which support women with serious mental health issues, keeping them together with their babies. The NHS’ Long Term Plan includes a commitment for a further 24,000 women to be able to access specialist perinatal mental health care by 2023/24, building on the additional 30,000 women who will access these services each year by 2020/21 under pre- 14 The impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave: Government Response existing plans. Specialist care will also be available from preconception to 24 months after birth, which will provide an extra year of support. The Government is working on increasing access to support so that partners of expectant and new mothers who are seriously unwell will be offered a range of help such as peer-support, behavioural couples therapy sessions and other family and parenting interventions.
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