‘Supporting people with mental health issues is a priority for us’
Government ministers Matt Hancock and Thérèse Coffey on what is being done to beat the problem
In today’s fast-paced society, we’re all trying to balance our health with family life, busy jobs and other responsibilities – so it’s no surprise that often we’re left feeling overwhelmed. As we mark World Mental Health Day, it is clear the stigma surrounding mental health is slowly lifting, helped by the increasing candour from the likes of Prince Harry to Nadiya Hussain in talking about their own mental ill health or depression.
That must not be derailed out of fear of criticism or ridicule for speaking openly and honestly about mental health or emotional wellbeing, or seeking the support that is needed.
This week, Public Health England launched Every Mind Matters, an online tool that provides proven and positive steps people can take to help when and if they self-identify the first stages of deteriorating mental health.
It is evidence-based and shows people how to make a real difference to their lives, for example by reframing unhelpful thoughts.
With one in four of us in any one year likely to be living with a mental health condition, supporting people with mental health in all spheres of our society is a priority for this Government.
We are determined that people are able to access support at the point of need to manage their mental health, including ensuring people have access to the right healthcare, supporting children with extra needs in schools, and working with employers to build healthy, inclusive workplaces which support the wellbeing of all employees.
Our health – both mental and physical – is an asset that needs to be nurtured. We’re all aware of the benefits of looking after our physical health and the steps we can take to keep ourselves healthy, but many of us are not as knowledgeable or proactive as we could be when it comes to our mental health.
This is why we’ve pledged to spend an extra £2.3billion per year by 2023-24 on transforming our mental health services as part of our Long Term Plan for the NHS, with a record spend of £12billion this year. And last week £70 million was announced for 12 areas to trial our new approach to mental health treatment – joining up housing and employment services to offer integrated support that targets the drivers of ill health by building closer community ties with charities and councils. Local services will be able to recruit extra staff, including therapists and psychologists, to deliver holistic health support to 100,000 people.
Many employers take this issue very seriously and understand the importance of supporting the health and wellbeing of their employees. But around 300,000 people with a long-term mental health condition still fall out of work each year. This needs to change.
We have started rolling out mental health training to all customer-facing Department for Work and Pensions staff, including Jobcentre Plus work coaches, to better support vulnerable claimants. Meanwhile, our Access to Work scheme provides up to nearly £60,000 a year for workplace adjustments for disabled people. It also offers free, individualised workplace support from an experienced mental health practitioner for six months for employees who have had workplace absence or are struggling to stay in work because of their mental health.
We’ve recently consulted on proposals to encourage early, positive action from employers to support workers with health conditions, including those with poor mental health. We called for views on enabling phased returns to work, extending Statutory Sick Pay protection to those on the lowest incomes and improving access to quality occupational health services.
Taken together, the aim is to reduce the number of people who may lose their job due to ill health. We are committed to creating a society where people with mental health conditions get the help they need – whether that’s vital healthcare or a little flexibility from their employer to enable them to stay and thrive in work.