News Release: 21 July 2008
In response to the release of the Welfare Reform Green Paper, ‘No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility’, Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“Reform to the benefits system is long overdue. Most of the half-a-million people on incapacity benefit with a mental health problem want to work and the level of support they currently receive to do so just isn’t good enough.
However, the emphasis needs to be on supporting people into sustainable and appropriate employment. There’s no point in pushing someone into a job that they can’t maintain in the long-term, or that may aggravate the condition that kept them out of work in the first place.
Improving access to the job market for people on incapacity benefit cannot be achieved through welfare reform alone and we look forward to hearing more about the proposed National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment.
It is essential that the new strategy takes account of international evidence, as other countries are ahead of us when it comes to supporting employers to manage mental health issues and tackling discrimination.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information, please contact the press office team on 020 7803 1130/28.
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.
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