LAST month England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, admitted that during the Covid Inquiry that the government had no plan to deal with the mental health impacts of the pandemic.

This stark admission reveals not just an oversight, but a colossal failure of leadership that has had devastating consequences for communities across the UK. This lack of planning has led to a significant rise in suicide rates, especially in places like Bradford, overwhelmed voluntary services, and a mental health crisis that continues to unravel years after the pandemic’s worst effects subsided.

Rising suicide rates in Bradford and West Yorkshire are a tragic reminder of the government’s negligence. Between 2020 and 2021, Bradford saw suicide rates increase from 11.3 to 13.5 per 100,000 people, a sharp uptick that correlates with the isolation, financial insecurity, and anxiety brought on by the lockdowns. The crisis was even more profound across West Yorkshire, where there was a 25per cent increase in suicide rates compared to pre-pandemic levels.

These suicides represent more than numbers on a page - they are real lives lost to a preventable crisis. Social isolation, loss of employment, and the shutdown of mental health services in lockdown all contributed to a mental health breakdown. Communities already dealing with economic challenges were hardest hit, and the government’s absence of a mental health strategy compounded the problem.

As government support faltered, it was voluntary services that shouldered the weight of the mental health crisis. Charities such as Mind Bradford, Samaritans, and local mental health groups were left to fill the void. Many of these organisations reported being inundated with calls from individuals facing severe mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Mind Bradford saw a 50per cent increase in requests for help, while local crisis services struggled to keep up with increased demand. Despite these organisations’ heroic efforts, they were ill-equipped to deal with the sheer volume of people in need, particularly as funding cuts left them with stretched resources. Many voluntary groups reached breaking point, exactly when they were needed most.

The real issue, however, lies at the heart of governmental failures. The leaders in charge failed to anticipate the mental health toll that prolonged lockdowns and social isolation would bring. They poured resources into physical health responses, yet paid little attention to the mental well-being of the population. This negligence wasn’t just a failure of foresight - it was idiocy.

How could senior officials not foresee that forcing people into isolation, cutting off their social connections, and leaving them in economic limbo would have catastrophic mental health consequences? Warnings from mental health professionals and experts were abundant, but were ignored. The government’s priority was on physical health measures, at the cost of mental health.

While the public was grappling with lockdown-induced loneliness and anxiety, government officials were engaging in Downing Street parties, blatantly disregarding the very restrictions they imposed on others. This hypocrisy rubbed salt into the wounds of those separated from their loved ones or unable to attend funerals.

The insensitivity displayed by the government’s leadership during this period deepened the public’s distrust. While ordinary citizens were struggling with their mental health, isolated at home, government leaders were exposed for their lack of empathy and disregard for the human cost of their policies.

In October 2021, a mental health support initiative was founded by myself at Bradford City Football Club, aimed at addressing the mental health crisis across the city. The group provided a community-focused space where fans and locals could access mental health resources. Despite its success and the clear need for such initiatives, the mental health support group ended in August due to professional demands of those involved, including myself.

This programme, like other grassroots efforts, was born out of the failures of the government to provide adequate mental health support. Yet, without sustained funding or national backing, it became yet another casualty in the fight to address the post-pandemic mental health crisis.

The government’s inexcusable lack of planning for mental health during Covid has left a legacy of suffering that will take years to untangle. To prevent further damage, it must take immediate action. Mental health services, both public and voluntary, need urgent, sustained investment. Access to mental health professionals must be expanded, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, and there must be nationwide suicide prevention programme.

The government must also address underlying factors that exacerbate mental health issues, such as economic instability, unemployment, and social isolation. Communities like Bradford have shown resilience and creativity in responding to the mental health crisis, but they cannot do it alone. The time has come for the government to step up and take responsibility for the mess it has created.

* Robert Cranmer is Director of Operations at Aleyah House Ltd, Huddersfield, a care provider supporting young people and adults in mental health.