The Pandemic, Inequalities and Mental Health

That the Parliament notes that the week beginning 18 May 2020 is Mental Health Awareness Week and that the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health may be long-lasting and severe; agrees that this should be highlighted during Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond and that people should be encouraged to talk about how the crisis is affecting their mental wellbeing; understands that financial uncertainty during the pandemic may exacerbate mental health issues; notes the findings of research on COVID-19, inequalities and mental health, published by the Mental Health Foundation; is concerned that a third of Scottish adults surveyed and in full-time work are concerned about losing their jobs; is further concerned that one in six unemployed people surveyed say they have had suicidal thoughts and feelings within the last two weeks; notes that nearly a third of Scottish adults say they are worrying about their finances, such as bill payments and debt; supports the Mental Health Foundation’s call for the Scottish and UK governments to provide an economic safety net for all, both during and after the pandemic; agrees that, as a first step, the Universal Credit advance payment should immediately be made a grant, removing the current requirement to repay it over the following 12 months, and agrees that mental health support must be available to all who need it.