For World Mental Health Day on the 10th October, data from ScrutinyCounts has revealed that Bath MP Wera Hobhouse is in the top 5 Members of Parliament for contributions on mental health discussions in the House of Commons.

The Minister and Shadow Minister for Mental Health were first and second, meaning that among backbench MPs, Mrs Hobhouse was the third most prolific contributor to debates on mental health. She also made the most contributions for a Liberal Democrat MP.

Wera is an officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Mental Health, as well as Chair of the APPGs on Childhood Trauma and Eating Disorders.

Wera’s contributions to the House of Commons on the subject of mental health include written questions on perinatal mental health care, suicide prevention in school curricula and eating disorders, as well as speeches on banning conversion therapy and the mental wellbeing of students.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented: “Since the onset of the pandemic, mental health issues have risen across the UK. The number of people suffering from poor mental health is quite likely to increase given the tremendous challenges we face, from existential questions like climate change to the everyday pressures of the cost of living.

“In my own constituency of Bath, it’s estimated that 2,000 people suffer from eating disorders alone, which is only one form that mental illness can take. Since becoming an MP in 2017, I have been campaigning on addressing the complex causes of eating disorders.

“We need to change the way we think about mental health and treat it the same as physical health. I will continue to speak up in Parliament on these urgent and difficult issues, for the benefit of my constituents and for all people with mental health challenges across the UK.”