MHFA England responds to welfare reforms

MHFA England's Chief Executive, Sarah McIntosh, responds to welfare reforms announced today.

"We all have mental health, and at any time, any of us can experience poor mental health. With mental ill health now the leading cause of economic inactivity in the UK, we must do more to prevent people falling out of work and help people to return to the workforce.

Many individuals experiencing mental ill health want to work but are often trapped in a system that does not provide the right support to do so. We must ensure that employers are ready, able, and willing to support them.

While balancing the books is important, it must be done in a fair and humane way and protect the most vulnerable. Tightening eligibility for benefits, improving support for those at risk of dropping out of work, greater provision for people to return to work and offering a 'right-to-try guarantees’ will only be effective if they are underpinned by meaningful workplace and healthcare reforms.

Currently too many people are unable to access timely mental health support when they do fall ill. This must change.

We need to shift the conversation away from simply moving people off benefits and the number of mental health diagnoses. This is stigmatising. Instead, we must prioritise creating healthy and inclusive workplace cultures, where people are engaged and connected to their work.

As ever, if the government wants to deliver meaningful reform, the devil will be in the detail. Ensuring organisations are better equipped to identify when someone may be at risk of poor mental health, and offer the right support and signposting, will be a crucial component. Done well, this can prevent more people falling out of work. We need more information on this. We also look forward to hearing more about the help and guidance for individuals and businesses to support people’s return to work.

As experts in workplace mental health, we are ready to partner with employers and the government to set the standards for mentally healthy workplaces. We must all work together to create environments where people with mental ill health can thrive, rather than being pushed back into systems that do not support their needs."