Mental health wage gap under scrutiny

Dr Lisa Cameron has given her backing to a report highlighting the wage disparity gap for those with mental health issues.

The SNP MP has been highlighting the latest report from the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute -“Mind the Income Gap”.

It looks at how work and social security shape the incomes of people with mental health problems.

The report found that the income gap faced by people with mental health problems is significant, being 68 per cent, compared to those without mental health disorders.

This is equivalent to a gap of £8400 [lower annual median income].

Dr Cameron who is a policy advisor for the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute said:“The report highlights the issues faced by people with mental health problems, such as such as anxiety or depression.

“There is a vicious circle where financial problems impact mental health which impacts employment.”

This is the second report published as part of the Mental Health and Income Commission.

The first report showed that people with mental health problems have lower average incomes and higher financial fragility than people without mental health problems.

This report investigated what drives those differences. The findings show that there are three key drivers of the income gap: low employment rates; low wages and low benefits.

Dr Cameron went on:“Having solutions to support people with mental health problems into work and sustaining work is critical.

“It’s clear that employers need to be inclusive both in recruitment processes and providing flexible employment solutions for those with mental health issues.”

“The benefits system can exacerbate or even initiate mental health problems. Aside from feeling‘valued’, where benefits are set at such a low rate, ongoing struggles to survive and provide whilst on benefits can result in a vicious downwards spiral of poverty and mental ill-health.”

She added:“The work of the Money and Mental Health Policy institute has evidenced what we already suspected, that having mental health problems can significantly impact‘life-chances’.

“Over the coming months, the team will be working with the Mental Health Income Commission to develop a set of recommendations to address these issues, including proposals on how to narrow the income gap and boost financial fragility.”