New government initiative to help mental health patients find work

A new initiative is being launched by the government to help people with mental health conditions find work.

Currently, almost three in five people with mental health conditions are currently unable to work. With evidence suggesting that employment can aid recovery, the government is hoping to help tens of thousands of people find jobs.

To address this, prime minister David Cameron has met with business leaders – including the bosses of Royal Mail, Barclays and BT – to highlight the need for a shift in attitudes and new workplace standards to accommodate people with mental health conditions.

Additionally, efforts will be made to increase access to talking therapies, provide more mental health experts in job centres and double the reach of programmes finding work for people with mental illness.

This work will be supported by the extra one billion pounds a year the NHS will be spending to help put mental and physical health on equal footing.

Mr Cameron said: "I want to go even further and end the status quo that sees more than half of people with mental health conditions unable to find a job."