Research conducted by MQ, Peopleful, and Northwest University’s Workwell Research Center found that 1 in 5 employees in the UK are at high risk of burnoutand another 22% show signs of stress-related health problems.
“It is disappointing to see how the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions belittles and misrepresents people with mental illness. It is not simply a “culture” that will disappear on its own. “People don’t pretend to be sick, they really are.”
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
“There has been a significant increase in poverty, deprivation, housing insecurity and homelessness, loneliness and isolation over the last 15 years and all of these problems are associated with depression and anxiety. It is therefore not surprising that we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people struggling with mental illness, including those who are at risk of self-harm and suicide.
“The Government’s plan to intensify penalties on people with mental illness for not working is unlikely to work; It’s not working now. These proposals are likely to make people worse off because of the hardship and debt they will face, ultimately costing the NHS and taxpayers much more in the long term.
“We are dealing with serious illnesses that affect the lives of millions of people, but many can be prevented and effectively treated with timely access to mental health services.
“There are better ways to help people with mental illness live healthy, productive lives, and they are likely to be more successful. For example, the Individual Placement Support program provides personalized help to people with serious mental illnesses while they try to find a suitable job. They should make these types of support services more available to all people with mental illness.
“With the right resources, mental health services could help people before they feel too sick to work. “I sincerely hope Mel Stride reconsiders his approach.”
So what can be done to reduce the benefit burden?
If the Work and Pensions Secretary is interested in reducing the number of people out of work due to health problems and therefore benefit spending, evidence has shown that preventing people from getting sick is more cost-effective than penalizing people. that they already are. struggling.
More than £2 billion is spent annually on social care for people with mental health problems, with the wider cost estimated at over £117.9 billion across the UK due to loss of productivity and informal care costs. Mental health problems They also considerably increase the workload of the educational, penal and judicial systems..
Investing in disease prevention, for example by improving early intervention measures, shortening waiting lists, raising living standards and encouraging positive employer practices in the workplace, has been shown to help reduce the risk of that people reach a critical point with their mental health.
Early intervention versus crisis intervention only for psychosis could save the NHS more than £33.5 million each year and reduce the social cost of illness by £63 million.
“Early intervention services are recommended in the NHS because of evidence collected and analyzed in a research setting that shows these services improve outcomes for patients and save money. We have now shown that each person treated in an early intervention service is twice as likely to be employed and 50% more likely to find stable housing, compared to people with early psychosis treated in other services. “People who receive early intervention services also spend less time in hospital, which is good news for them and also saves the NHS money.”
Professor Belinda Lennox, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
TO LSE and Rethink Mental Illness 2014 Report found that early intervention could equate to a net saving of £7,972 per person over four years. Over a ten year period, £15 in costs could be saved for every £1 invested in Early Intervention.
MQ has consistently called on the Government to do more to prevent mental illness wherever possible.
Last year MQ joined calls from 35 mental health organizations for all political parties to prioritize prevention, equality and support in the Mentally healthier nations manifest.
This was in addition to our Cost of living report which required a reshaping of economic and social policies to address the underlying cause of inequalities.
He Roadmap gone too soon It set out actionable measures the government could take to reduce premature mortality associated with serious mental illness.
More recently, MQ contributed to a All-Party Parliamentary Group Report which required a population-wide public health strategy to address adverse childhood experiences and reduce the “trauma trap.”
All of the above reports, documents and roadmaps are evidence-based and make clear the actions the government can take to reduce the burden of mental illness.
Dealing with mental illness is complex and difficult, but it’s important for policymakers to remember that these are people whose lives are affected, not lines on a spreadsheet that make up a financial bottom line.
