Jim Knight, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, has pledged that people with mental health issues will receive extra support in managing their condition to help keep them in work.

This announcement follows the success of pilot schemes run by the government in conjunction with Mind, the mental health charity, which have achieved a remarkable 90% success rate in helping people with fluctuating mental health conditions to remain in their jobs.

Following this successful trial, the Government is now planning to roll out the programme nationally through a range of different providers.

In addition to this, the Government also plans to introduce a number of other measures to provide further support for employees dealing with mental health issues, including:

• The first National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment, which will be published this autumn. The expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals will all be addressed by the strategy.
• A network of dedicated mental health experts will be put in place across Jobcentre Plus. They will work in close conjunction with colleagues in the health system to coordinate support for people with mental health conditions.
• A consultation on Right to Control, which will help to give all disabled people - including people with mental problems - more say when it comes to deciding how public money is spent to support them.
• Doubling the Access to Work fund from £69 million to £138 million over the coming five years, which will provide practical help and financial support to disabled people and their employers to help them overcome the problems that make working more difficult.

Sophie Corlett, Director of External Relations for Mind, commented: “People with mental health problems want to work but are often failed by employers who lack the understanding or the skills to provide the necessary support. We welcome the Government’s increased investment in mental health, particularly during these difficult economic times, when now more than ever people need the support and understanding of their employers”.

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