Mental Health UK responds to Prime Minister’s speech on welfare
On Friday 19th April, Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak made a speech on welfare announcing the need for reforms. Specifically honing in on the need to tackle unemployment and getting people back into work.
Mr Sunak stated that his government would be “more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life”. Mr Sunak then detailed the measures he hopes to introduce in the next parliament.
Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK once again emphasized the call for government to lead a national conversation with employers and experts to ensure the full complexities of increasing unemployment are understood.
– Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK“Despite the headline-grabbing language which trivialises the very real challenges that people across the UK are facing in terms of their mental health, the rising numbers of people out of work should be an issue of national concern, and we agree with the government that more support is needed to help people back into employment.
We have been calling for government to lead a national conversation with employers and experts given recent polling by our charity which shows that high levels of stress and burnout are driving work absence, and so we’re pleased to see this call for evidence. Initiatives helping people into employment must be grounded in what we know works: that is targeted, long-term support which addresses the individual barriers that people face, whether that’s issues with housing, finances or self-confidence, and helps them to find meaningful, secure employment based on their skills and aspirations.”
Our Into Work programme
We know how vital employment can be for people, both mentally
and practically in terms of providing purpose and financial stability.
Into Work is a new holistic employment service providing wraparound
support to help people living with mental health conditions back into
employment.
