Munira has called on the Government to not only extend financial support to the millions who are excluded from the Government’s support schemes, but also to step up the provision of mental health support.
Around 3 million people have been excluded from the Government’s support schemes. These include the newly self-employed, freelancers, directors of Limited Companies, those on short term contracts, new starters and many others. Dozens of Munira’s constituents have written to her who are affected.
In a letter to the Chancellor and the Health Secretary, Munira and Jamie Stone MP (Chair of the ExcludedUK APPG) are calling on the Government to:
- Expand the financial support schemes to include those who are currently excluded from them
- Commit to ensuring mental health services have the additional investment and resources needed to support those in crisis as a result of the pandemic, including those excluded from Government financial support
- Commit to scrutinising how the Government has responded to the mental health aspects of the crisis as part of its public inquiry
- Provide funding to charitable services that provide free debt counselling or help with managing debt
Munira commented:
“Millions of people excluded from the financial lifelines this Government is offering to others are under incredible stress. Many will be worried about how to put food on the table for their families, or how they will pay to keep a roof over their head.
The toll this will take on people’s mental health, both now and in the longer term, must not be underestimated. The Government must act now to alleviate the financial strain faced by millions, and also to invest in mental health support so that anyone in crisis can get the help they need, when they need it.”
Jamie Stone, Chair of the APPG for ExcludedUK, commented:
“The terrible financial pressure on the millions excluded from financial support is putting tremendous strain on people’s mental health. We need action now, not just to support this group financially, but to support the mental health of those affected.
We are calling on the Government to increase funding for mental health support for all groups affected by this pandemic, not least those who are burdened by significant debt.
The Prime Minister has now committed to an independent inquiry into his Government’s handling of COVID-19. This must include scrutinising how it has responded to the mental health aspects of the pandemic, including the financially excluded. It is vital that we learn the lessons of this dreadful crisis.”
Munira and Jamie’s Letter to the Government
The text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Rishi / Matt,
We are writing to urge you to take action to address the impact of exclusion from the Government’s Covid-19 financial support schemes on people’s mental health.
Millions of hard-working people from across the UK have found themselves excluded from the Government’s financial support during the pandemic through no fault of their own. These include the newly self-employed, the self-employed with trading profits in excess of £50,000, freelancers, new mothers, directors of Limited Companies, those on short term contracts and new starters.
Recent statistics from the Standard Life Foundation show that 57% of those excluded are unlikely to financially survive another 3 months without support. 12% are also expected to be filing for bankruptcy. This is unacceptable.
Undoubtedly, this will have a significant toll on people’s mental health, now and in the longer term. We have already heard many who are excluded from the support schemes say they feel isolated, stressed, and bleak about their future and ability to put food on the table for their family. We are deeply concerned that people’s mental health could worsen, particularly if there is a second wave of the pandemic.
To ensure this situation does not create a crisis of its own, we urge you to:
Expand the Government’s financial support schemes to include those who are currently excluded from them
This is the single most important step the Government can take to alleviate the financial strain that is putting enormous pressure on millions of people. We know this is possible given the recent report from the Treasury Committee entitled “Economic Impact of Coronavirus: Gaps in Support”. This made a number of recommendations the Government can enact now to expand the provision for those currently overlooked. There are simple administrative solutions to many problems affecting thousands.
Commit to ensuring mental health services have the additional investment and resources needed to support those in crisis as a result of the pandemic, including those excluded from Government support
Both Royal College of Psychiatrists and Centre for Mental Health have predicted a “tsunami” of referrals and mental health difficulties on the horizon. Those who have been financially excluded from the Government’s support schemes may be part of this.
We urge you to develop a cross-departmental mental health strategy as a matter of urgency that addresses the impact of the pandemic on the nation’s mental health. This must include sufficient investment in mental health services so that they are able to meet the inevitable rise in demand.
Commit to scrutinising how the Government has responded to the mental health aspects of the crisis as part of its public inquiry
The Prime Minister has now committed to a public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic. This is very welcome, but as part of this, we ask the Government to also commit to scrutinising how it has responded to the mental health aspects of the pandemic, including the financially excluded.
Provide funding to charitable services that provide free debt counselling or help with managing debt
Many charities that provide free debt counselling have been struggling during the pandemic due to a loss of income from their usual fundraising channels. Given the vital role they play and are likely to continue to play in helping those excluded from support schemes to manage their debt, we urge you to ensure they have sufficient funding to continue this work.
Rishi, you have said yourself that “we will be judged by our capacity for compassion”. We urge you to do the right thing and alleviate the financial strain faced by millions who are excluded from financial support.
Investment in mental health support is crucial to ensure those in crisis can get the help they need.
Yours sincerely,
Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson)
Jamie Stone (Chair of the APPG for ExcludedUK)
The letter was also covered in this Huffpost article here.