Let nurses sign sick notes for the mentally ill, report advises

BOSSES should accept sick notes signed by mental health nurses to help psychologically ill people back to work, a major report backed by Theresa May has said.

It is one of a range of recommendations designed to improve conditions among employees with one in six suffering poor mental health.

The report also calls for the Government to transform the rules governing statutory sick pay to enable people recovering from poor mental health to return gradually to work and for firms that prioritise the mental health care of their staff to receive discounts on their insurance premiums.

The Prime Minister, who commissioned the research, yesterday pledged to accept a package of new practices for about two million public servants meaning they should receive tailored in-house mental health support, adding: “We need to take action.”

Around 300,000 people lose their job every year due to mental health, with the toll on the economy due to lost productivity around £99billion.

Much of this is due to “presenteeism”, where employees come to work but are less effective due to illness.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, the mental health charity, said: “We found that in many workplaces, mental health is still a taboo subject and that opportunities are missed to prevent poor mental health and ensure employees who may be struggling get the support they need.

“In many instances, employers simply don’t understand the crucial role they can play, or know where to go for advice and support.”

Meanwhile, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, condemned the “work hard, play hard macho culture” that downplays the issue.