07 December 2007
A £5m government initiative to help people with mental health problems back to work has come under fire from charities and trade unions.
To tackle 'stress and other mental health-related sick notes', the departments of Work and Pensions and Health plan to treble the number of employment advisers in GP surgeries as part of a wider package of measures.
Around 40% of people receiving incapacity benefits do so because of mental ill-health. Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said: 'Mental ill-health is now the biggest single cause of both absence from work and Incapacity Benefit claims.'
Sue Christoforou, policy officer at mental health charity Mind, said: 'Although the vast majority of people with mental health problems are keen to get back to work, it is important that they do not feel forced to do so before they are ready.
'The presence of jobcentre advisers could not only make people feel under pressure, but could also deter them from going to their GP altogether.'
The Trades Union Congress is also critical of the scheme. A spokesman said: 'If people return to work too early it can make a recovery less likely, especially if their illness was initially work-related.'
The government also plans to pilot an £8m advice and support service for smaller businesses to help them to support people with mental health conditions.
The government estimates that 30% of GP appointments are used to discuss mental health problems.
PFdec2007
