Covid Inquiry Criticized for Neglecting Mental Health Impact

Multiple organizations accuse the inquiry of failing to adequately address the mental health consequences of the pandemic, despite previous indications of inclusion.

• Nearly 30 organizations, including Mind, have expressed dissatisfaction with the Covid Inquiry's narrow focus, particularly its exclusion of adult mental health services.
• Baroness Heather Hallett, the inquiry chair, has been urged to reconsider the scope of the inquiry to include broader mental health impacts, not just inpatient care for children.
• Research indicates significant mental health deterioration among adults and children due to pandemic restrictions, with one in nine children now diagnosed with mental health conditions.
• Legal representatives and mental health advocates demand clarity on when the inquiry will address mental health issues, as current plans do not include this critical aspect.
• Public hearings for the inquiry's third module, set for September 2024, will focus on healthcare systems but exclude adult mental health, sparking further criticism.

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