Don’t vilify the vulnerable for political gain

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, has managed to demean those suffering from work-related stress, depression and other mental illnesses by implying they are just feeling a little 'bluesy' and are suffering the 'normal ups and downs of life'.

He has managed to insult doctors

by accusing them of 'overmedicalising' normal worries as mental health conditions. He has implied they are guilty of boxticking by saying those 'feeling a little bit depressed' are not capable of work, thus suggesting GPs are signing people off work unnecessarily. He says we should have a 'grown-up conversation' about the issues.

Dan Poulter, a doctor, psychiatrist, ex-health minister and Conservative MP for 14 years has just resigned from the Tory Party and joined Labour. He said the health service has ceased to be an area of priority for the Conservatives.

Vilifying the vulnerable and those suffering from mental illness, seemingly for political purposes, is not a 'grown-up conversation'.

A grown-up conversation should be about reducing the poverty and destitution which causes the very mental health problems Mel Stride appears to demean. It should be about reducing the 7.6 million people on the NHS waiting list. It should be about reducing the 1.9 million people waiting for mental health services.

Michael Baldwin