A covid-19 recovery mental health strategy for children

That this House notes that a survey by the mental health charity Re-Think found that one third of children feel more anxious, sad and stressed now than before lockdown; further notes that the charity Action for Children has asked the Government to prioritise children’s mental health in covid-19 recovery planning with sufficient funding; notes that at their press conference of 21 September 2020, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance predicted that mental health would be further jeopardised if the virus goes out of control; and calls upon the Government to publish a distinctive Mental Health Strategy for Children and Young People, focusing on the covid-19 pandemic with an accompanying commitment that the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people will be placed at the heart of the overall Covid-19 Recovery Plan.