News Release, 17 October 2006
The Mental Health Foundation has responded to the Disability Rights Commission survey on employer attitudes to people with mental health problems. Commenting on the findings, Dr. Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:
“It is unacceptable that two thirds of the organisations surveyed by the DRC have no policy on supporting staff with mental health problems. If the Government is serious about equality and social inclusion for people with mental health problems, it will need to help employers to be socially responsible. This calls for the injection of substantial resource to tackle employer discrimination and the provision of assistance to help organisations implement initiatives such as supported employment programmes. Schemes to move people off Incapacity Benefit will be useless if employers are ill-equipped to support existing or potential staff with experience of mental health problems.”
“The majority of employers do not want to hire someone with a mental health problem. This does not reflect an open inclusive society, but a society that rejects some of its most vulnerable people who are competent and willing to work. The Government needs to work to change the attitudes of employers.”
ENDS
Read more about the Disability Rights Commission survey (on the DRC website)
Return to news releases 2006
Notes to editors
For further information and interview requests contact please contact the Press Office on 0207 803 1128 / 0207 803 1130 or email the press office
The Mental Health Foundation is the leading UK charity working to improve services for both people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities. It is the only charity to fund and work with both service users and providers and plays an important role in funding research and new approaches to prevention, treatment and care. The Foundation’s work includes allocating grants for research and community projects; contributing to the public debate; educating policy makers and healthcare professionals and striving to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.
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