Mental illness will be the second pandemic, but the government doesn’t have a clue

Covid-19 has already seen a surge in mental health problems, which will only get worse as the economic crisis follows the health crisis, says Alastair Campbell

Nadine Dorries has been minister for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety since 2019 (EPA)

I learnt something new this week ... and I taught something to the other participants in the Brain Forum debate. I learnt that our brains may change shape as we adapt to the strange world of Covid-19.

They learnt from me that Nadine Dorries is the minister for mental health in England. As it was an international event, many had not heard of her. Those Brits who had were, to put it mildly, a bit surprised. In so far as they knew her, she was an ardent Brexiteer promising us all it would be so, so easy, and go so, so well. Even more knew her as a contestant in I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!

The Brain Forum, says its website, “brings together world leaders in science, technology, healthcare and business to advance our understanding of how the brain works and to accelerate the application of that understanding to human needs”. I was there as none of the above, but as a mental health campaigner and advocate.