In May, The ME Association co-signed an open letter, written by the group Long Covid Advocacy (LCA) to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCoP), urging them to align with current evidence. This was subsequently sent to the college to highlight concerns regarding the framing of Long Covid at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists sent a letter to Long Covid Advocacy in early June as a response to the original open letter.
Long Covid Advocacy have responded (July 1) to reiterate the initial requests in the Open Letter from May 2026.
The LCA letter to RCoP includes the following:
- reaffirms the actions requested in the original open letter;
- emphasises the important role psychiatry can play when grounded in an accurate understanding of the underlying biological disease;
- highlights the need for future educational programming to better reflect current evidence and NICE guidance;
- encourage the College (RCoP) to apply the principles of its new Women's Mental Health Action Plan to ME and Long Covid; and
- renews the request for a meeting with the Royal College, together with representatives of the organisations supporting the open letter, to discuss constructive ways forward.
Further information
- ME Association co-signs Long Covid Advocacy’s Open Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists | June 8, 2026
- Long Covid Advocacy: Open Letter Urges Royal College of Psychiatrists to Align with Current Evidence | May 12, 2026
- Long Covid Advocacy: We Have Responded to the Royal College of Psychiatrists | July 1, 2026