We received the following reply to our open letter and have sent a further reply, see below.
17 April 2025
To whom it may concern,
Thank you for your recent open letter, which has been forwarded to the Adoption Policy team for response.
Thank you for sharing the research from the United States, which we understand is not yet formally published. On this basis, at this stage we are unable to comment, given the status of the findings, but we will be very interested to engage with this further after publication.
I note your comments about the need for further research, including mortality rates. However, the Office for National Statistics does not hold mortality statistics by birth status, such as whether a person is adopted, as this information is not recorded on the death certificate, so this would not be straightforward.
The government recognises that too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we are committed to ensuring we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health so that people can be confident of accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.
Mental health is and remains a priority for the NHS, backed by the Mental Health Investment Standard, which continues in 2025-26 to ensure that mental health funding is ring-fenced to support delivery of our commitments.
NHS Talking Therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, provide treatment to adults with common mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. People can self refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their GP. Regulations have also been amended to make it easier for adoptees to access support.
Yours faithfully,
[………….]
Policy Adviser
Adoption Policy team
22 May 2025
Dear [………..]
Thank you for your reply. We ask the Adoption Policy team to consider the below:
Research
We are in agreement that there are insufficient statistics on mortality outcomes for first mothers and adoptees. It is essential that we understand the mental and physical health consequences of relinquishment and adoption. It is irresponsible to continue to make policy for looked-after children in this vacuum.
We urge the government to take steps to correct the absence of data. It should be perfectly achievable to take a sample from the Adopted Children’s Register and, using standard genealogical techniques, trace the outcomes of these individuals and compare them to the general population. The government has already pledged to extend research on adoptees to include older adults; this would be an impactful first project to commission.
Mental health
Your reply fails to address the particular mental health challenges faced by adoptees. Complex PTSD diagnoses are on the rise, as observed by Dr Paul Sunderland in his clinical work. CPTSD is a disabling condition affecting most aspects of life and work. Many face challenges being referred to psychologists or psychiatrists who can diagnose CPTSD in the first instance. Once diagnosed, adoptees are subject to a postcode lottery when trying to access the NICE-recommended treatments, which are EMDR and trauma-informed CBT. Talking Therapies alone are not enough to address the effects of trauma.
The Minister has said that no population is singled out for special treatment in the NHS but this is not true. It is acknowledged that Armed Forces veterans who have served in frontline situations have higher levels of suicidality and are in receipt of a code that facilitates faster access to mental health services. The same could be done for adoptees. Given the scale of the problem, the fact that our adoptions were sanctioned and performed by the state when we were too young to consent, and the urgency for those who may have been untreated for decades, we think it is necessary, reasonable and proportionate to consider such a scheme for adoptees.
The emerging picture from the anecdotal experiences of our cohort is of a mental health crisis. This is backed up by the Minnesota study highlighting suicide rates of 4 times the average in the adoptee population, and by Dr Zubov’s work which indicates figures are likely as high as 35 times. These are shocking findings that demand action.
The first step for policy makers working on adoption must be to listen directly to those who have lived experience. We urge you to engage directly and substantively with the points above and with adoptee-led organisations.
We once again ask that the Minister meets with us to discuss these issues, and will be writing to her directly.
Yours sincerely,
[AAM]
cc. Minister Daby