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The cost to mental health
Posted Friday 25 June 2010
I don’t envy George Osborne. I’ve just worked out the division of bills in my flat and there was no positive element to that task at all – it will remain two painstaking hours of my life that I can never get back. And so I imagine the Treasury’s last month of sums was no picnic. But the troubles of developing this budget count for nothing against the troubles it could potentially cause.
Clearly, the country’s spending is no longer sustainable. However, modern politics should have come far enough that every party ensures the most vulnerable in society are supported, and definitely not the hardest hit. And that’s exactly what Mind fears most: that the consequences of this budget will be most acutely felt by those who most need support.
Although NHS funding has been protected, it would be a false assumption to think that this will ensure mental health service users do not have to worry about cuts. Mental health should to be seen as an issue that involves all aspects of life and all parts of society. Taking this perspective, it becomes evident that the cuts proposed to other areas of the public sector will have a deep and enduring impact on the mental wellbeing of this country.
Around half of all people claiming benefits because of illness have mental health problems. We are opposed to any assumption that the welfare system is riddled with undeserving people who somehow need to be ‘found out’. The announcement that all Disability Living Allowance claimants will be subject to a medical assessment from 2013/14 onwards accentuates this assumption.
Furthermore, with the current Work Capability Assessment for employment and support allowance being unfit to assess how people’s mental health affects their ability to work, we are not confident that this new assessment will be any more adequate. Instead, it could end up compelling people into positions that may compromise their mental health and wellbeing if it does not learn from the failures of our other benefit tests.
However, the most immediate and disturbing change to the benefits system will be the linkage of benefits to the Consumer Prices Index (currently at 3.4 per cent) as opposed to the Retail Prices Index (currently at 5.1 per cent). This means that the amount of benefit paid will not increase as much as is needed to keep up with rising prices. This will lead to a significant cut in living standards for households that are dependent on benefits – which are among the poorest in our society.
Aside from benefits, the effect of cuts to other areas, such as job losses and changes to our communities, may impact on our wellbeing, resulting in an increased need for mental health care the government can’t afford.
For example, reductions in police funding could end the good work started as part of our Another Assault campaign and public sector redundancies and the consequent rise in people’s debt levels will undoubtedly lead to increased rates of mental distress.
This budget could cost the mental health of this country dearly – is it a price our society can afford to pay?
If you’re concerned about the impact of the budget on your local services, write to your MP and ask them how they will fight for the needs of mental health service users.
Mariam Kemple, Policy and Campaigns Officer
Update: please note that some of the comments below may be triggering for some readers.
65 Comments
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I contacted my MP over 2 months ago to ask what more they could do for mental health service users locally. He never replied back, needless to say I wont be bothering to do so now, with the recent budget having given me more worries.
Oh, and lets hope that it is not ATOS who will be doing the medical assessments for DLA. They are clueless about mental health issues. -
what with the imminent problems arising with debt,loss of jobs etc.it is now that the powers that be,should seriously take notice in the rise of many health/mental issues which manifest through the stresses that our lives bestow each and everyone of us.i myself know full well the problems of stress/depression can bring.to cut back on the very people who require assistance is not a commonsense,logical thing to aim at.more funding if anything is needed to these particular areas.it was not the taxpaying public fault that they find themselves in this daunting position with no real beneficial answer apart from more medicines to curb problem which as i first mentioned came about due to the country's financial woes made by the corporate world who we all know are banks,pharmaceuticals companies who all benefit but not the very people it put in there.
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The cuts in housing benefit are deplorable. They are not just the upper limit as touted by Osborne, as they only constitute 6% of the savings, it is the other savings such as changing how housing allowance is calculated.
This could leave people struggling to survive being evicted and living on the streets. Even when people do survive the anxiety will be crippling.
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I had hoped to gradually become well enough to do a little work, but in doing so, would be relying on DLA and LHA. My plans are pretty much scuppered. What's the point in recovering when you just lose your ESA, lose your DLA, lose part of your LHA and still can't function as other people can? At least when I'm really ill, I don't know and don't care what's going on around me.
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I am concerned about my welfare when DLA is re-assessed in a couple of years time. My condition has worsened since my first assessment however I feel, in my bones, that I'll lose my benefit because, for example, I do not have an easily perceptible disability. If you have a missing limb then it'll be easier to continue to receive DLA. If you have a mental illness the government, from this vantage point, will take your money off you and leave you destitute. That's how the coalition government treat the vulnerable in society. The Conservative/Lib-Dem government are only a few rungs short of emulating Hitler's Nazis and the T4 programme (when all disabled people were murdered).
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I am reliant on DLA and incapacity benefit. The challenge for mental health sufferers and organisations is, in my humble opinion, to let the government and wider society know that when/if a semblance of recovery happens, it is not in isolation to every thing else. Unlike many pysical illness mental health well being is highly dependent, on social security. To take this social support away at a rime when it would be needed most is no less than an act of Dickensian barbarity. Apart from this, there is also the unfairness and immorality of bashing the so called 'undeserving poor' when much more savings could be found if they had the will to tackle tax fraud and evasion. universal benefits given to those well off enough to have no need of them but have to recieve these benefits - like it or not has not been addressed. The rich cannot refuse these benefits - it is budgeted as a DWP outgoing estimated at about 5 billion per annum which could be saved from the well off.
The government need to face up to the reality at present. Namely, finding ways to allow those with mental health history who want to try work to be able to do so without having to go through the penalising bureaucracy that is such a barrier at present. Support should be about helping people - not saving money. The rules need relaxing so people can earn more not have their benefits reduced to less or marginal when entering the jobs market. This support should remain too. The reality that many might need substantial state support on top of their earnings for the foreseeable future should be faced. Why not? We deserve to be able to explore what we can and can't do in terms of employment without this constant stressful, anxiety producing pressure from the state. Once this has been settled, we can then start to tackle employment prejudice.
It seems like they are bashing the vulnerable on a daily basis, they don't seem to distinguish between who and over what they bash, if your on incapacity or DLA you are going to be bashed by them weather you deserve it or not.
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When is the Chief Executive of MIND going to speak out against the witch hunt against sickness benefit claimants or is he and the top executives of disability charities more interested in protecting their huge salaries?
Are the top executives of Charities involved in the welfare reform Act and ESA discussions with the previous NEW labour government from the outset of that legislation going to take a pay cut?
The legislation in the welfare reform act 2009 is enabling this massive attack on the mentally ill.
There are far too many charities funded by government, they have lost their independence.
Paul
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First they impoverish us then they attack us when we steal. That is called scapegoating and it is a strategy of all desperate regimes. Get real MIND and wake up these are not money pinching measures but rather directed actions. We're £800 billion underwater so what difference will £150 billion make? When the mass unemployment and hyper-inflation comes the rich don't want the blame!
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I am heartily sick of politicians' constant references to "Benefit Cheats" and "Welfare Scroungers" "languishing on benefits" and the inferrence that the economic woes of this country rest firmly at the feet of those of us who suffer illness, mental or otherwise.
We consult our GP when we are unwell and are referred to specialists for treatment if necessary. Is the government saying that these people are wrong (or liars)? What is never made clear to the general population is that anyone who receives Incapacity Benefit long term is already regularly assessed (even those with progressive, degenerative diseases). It can take six months between sending off the IB50 and getting an appointment for assessment. Do any of the people involved in the system have any idea of the stress that puts on someone with a mental health problem? Assessments are done by ATOS (the doctor will now make a point of telling you that they do not make the decision about your ability to work) and the DWP (a "Decision Maker", who is not medically trained, at the local Jobcentre will make the decision). Having been assessed by the system and found to be unfit to work, the benefit is awarded, so what's the probem? Why do they make it seem as though it is as simple as signing a form and getting the benefit, no questions asked? Also, if we are all pretending to be ill so that we don't have to work, why is it that so many appeals (overseen by a government solicitor and doctor) are successful?
"Helping" and "encouraging" are different words for "threatening" and "forcing". And the notion that "work is good for you". Where does that leave those of us who find ourselves here because of work?
If the government really wants to address the issue of "helping" the mentally ill to return to employment, it may want to look at a mental health system that limits support for patients to 6 weeks for this activity, 12 weeks for that activity, only so many hours of counselling and a total reluctance to provide one to one therapy for anyone but the most severely ill.
Well said Paul. Too many organisations seem to rely on funding from the government, so they are reluctant to "rock the boat" by making a stand on behalf of the peope they are supposed to represent.
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Colonialism. paying for the third world as our country made itself rich on their backs. DLA paid to people living in other countries. Millions per week paid into the EEC. NATO, wars etc etc is where the load is going.
We had our cream and it is time for the rest of the world to take it back.
We had the work houses and it was always the poor in this country that was neglected. Why in this day and age should the poor have to foot the bill for the rich peoples greed? Banks give back the loans!!!!! We had segregation of the classes so leave it out. Plus our country have the audacity to make workhouses or cotton mills etc into heritage sites. It makes me sick and so depressed. -
I am scared and worried by the annoucement of the DLA changes. I have started to prepare to lose my housing, and independence. My family have decided to start decorating the spare bedroom for the event that we fear.
I have just read about further changes to Incapcity Benefit and massive cuts. Clearly those with mental illness will be the most affected, just look at what has happened with ESA. Because this is all too easy for them and no organisation really does much to stand up for what the mentally ill struggle to do.
I'm not sure I can take much more. The attacks are relentless, and it's getting worse. We're the scape goats -- it is all too easy. I can see all around me how well the government propaganda has worked.
Mind - Please help us. Our lives are at stake.
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Being called a ‘scrounger’ day in day out in the press, and on the News, like this seems to have been legitimized as a way to refer to everyone who is on benefits, and it is really outrageous and disrespectful and prejudicial, and it is not just from the tabloid press but the Government and Prime Minister too. How come Mind does not at least stand up for the people who are seriously unwell and cannot handle being stigmatized on top of everything else? If it were any other minority group, it would be stopped immediately and taken to the Court of Human Rights, but because it is populist language aimed at blaming someone else for this financial crisis, well we are taking the flak and it is already doing more harm than good. It is completely unfair and should be against the law to refer to the disabled in this way…. When is somebody going to stop them speaking like that?
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I have had enough of all the negative press targeted at us, and also how no one seems to be speaking or standing up for us. There was another disability forum but that closed I wonder why, to take our voice away?
I am preparing now so businesses are going to lose out; this week getting rid of phone, tv licence, as well as any other way to cut my bills down for when they take Incapacity Benefit and DLA of me, if I still have a home.
All of this is making me really ill, and pushing me to the edge. We need "Someone" to start fighting back for us, and I agree our lives are at stake like the previous message has stated above.
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Thank you for all of your comments.
We are acutely aware that this is a huge issue for a lot of people with experience of mental distress and we are working hard to ensure that cuts and changes to benefits do not hurt those who are claiming benefits for reasons of mental health.
We have been very public in our concerns about the welfare system (http://www.mind.org.uk/news/3166_new_benefit_test_will_fail_to_spot_illness_and_disability). We are listening carefully to the issues raised by people with experience of mental distress and relating these points to those administering the benefits system in order to encourage positive reform. As we try to influence these reforms, some of our work will be behind-the-scenes lobbying but we will keep people informed as things progress.
We agree that the language around ‘cracking down’ on ‘benefit cheats’ and ‘scroungers’ is upsetting and misleading. This type of inflammatory rhetoric only serves to provoke great anxiety among the majority of claimants who are seeking support that they genuinely need.
Mind is fiercely protective of its independence and we do not accept any funding that would compromise this position. We undertake policy and campaigning work on the issues affecting people with experience of mental distress to achieve tangible improvements in law, policies and practices. Mind has consistently championed the rights of people with experience of mental distress on benefits by responding to the numerous consultations and lobbying to change previous reforms of the welfare system.
We have also consistently argued against the Government’s intentions of moving towards a harsher sanction regime for people with experience of mental distress which is based on the notion of deducting from, or restricting, welfare benefits in an attempt to promote certain types of behaviour in claimants. However, it can be very hard to fight against the direction of travel.
As the changes to benefits proceed we will be arguing:
-That it is wrong to cut the support to those who really need it
-That any assessment for eligibility for benefits needs to fully recognise the impact of mental health issues
-That if people are to return to work, they need to be offered a flexible and supportive environment in which to do so, and the work they enter needs to be suitable for their circumstances
-That it is wrong to characterise people on benefits as ‘scroungers’ and that this has a real impact on people’s health and wellbeing -
I ask again When is the CEO going to speak out about the government and media propaghanda concerning workfare and benefit cuts being forced on the mentally ill?
He makes statements enough times about Talking Therapies.
Talking therapies will not stop people becoming homeless.Paul
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At my last assessment, I was told I "looked well". Therein, I think is part of the reason we are such easy targets. Because we have an illness that cannot be seen, it is easy to assume and imply that we are all shirking.
Losing my job through ill health and the consequent decline in my standard of living was difficult to cope with but over time I have tried and managed to continue to live independently in spite of the increasing pressures from "them". And for what?
Like others here today, I had hoped that there would be some sort of reaction from the various groups and organisations that tell us they are there for us but so far - silence.
It seems hopeless and I know that my health will be worse as a result but as far as "they" are concerned, I'm not really ill anyway.
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Tom, my comments crossed with yours.
Thanks for clarifying MIND's position. There is some reassurance to be had knowing that you are arguing our case.
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Twelve years ago my employer accepted that I was too ill to work in any capacity. This was supported by my consultant psychiatrist, by Occupational Health and by my pension provider and I was awarded ill health retirement. I had been a teacher for 20 years.
I feel doubly stigmatised. The constant demonising of claimants as cheats and scroungers, and the cruel comments that we should be given food or clothing vouchers instead of money, makes me feel worthless and now the publicity claims that people on public sector pensions are robbing the country too.The tabloid comments columns are evil.
I feel utterly vilified. Quite honestly I feel that society would be better off without me and only the fact that a few people care about me stops me hurting them. My GP knows, understands and is supportive.
The language and tone used about us is devastating. We are no longer humans; we're debased to creatures who deserve nothing but insults. I feel entirely worthless now. I have no belief that my IB will be maintained - I have just had the forms to fill in and am petrified about a possible medical. Suicides are going to be just collateral damage. I am terribly scared for us all.
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Tom, it is positive that Mind have taken some notice.
But I worry that it is just not enough. People are even suffering under the ESA rollout. Things are going to go too far unless something changes. We're easy -- the government knows it. Isn't it time to be more vocal or change tactics? Otherwise, we're in trouble.
It is not just the impact on losing vital help. I fear society has taken a step back because of the propaganda over the past couple of years that has been drip fed into the media. Apparently mental illness isn't a valid reason to recieve DLA or Incapacity, and one of the top 'excuses'. Mental Illness awareness is taking a battering. I have never been more afraid of anyone knowing who I am and what I suffer from.
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If anyone ends up feeling that you can't live with losing everything if it happens to you make sure your suicide note detailing that is your reason is copied to a BBC correspondent, the coroner, a mental health charity and the secertary of state so at least the enivitable suicides will mean something because it couldn't be denied - that's the only thing which would make the government reassess their policies.
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I agree something else needs to be done rather than just in the background. I understand how many are being pushed beyond their limits of coping, and it seems it will push some too far, as in suicides, but the government will not care, makes me wonder if that is their plan.
Don't the government realize cut our benefits or throw us off then the shops businesses will go down lack of sales due to us all being without, and if they do not take our own doctors word for why we are ill, then they are saying all medical opinion that is on our medical records is all lies, so what would be the point in going to doctors it seems the government don't trust them.
I really fear what is going to happen, and I don't feel anyone will be able to stop them from doing what they want. I also feel degraded with the way we are being portrayed in every paper and news show. Isn't this the government being racist to disabled people, calling us all scroungers and cheats, surely things like this are usually taken to the courts of human rights, but it seems we have none.
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It doesn't seem to be working does it - Mind are saying "it is wrong to cut the support to those who really need it" and "the language around ‘cracking down’ on ‘benefit cheats’ and ‘scroungers’ is upsetting and misleading." which is true... However, the people spouting this "we must crack down on benefit cheats" mantra always maintain without fail when challenged "Oh yes but of course we only mean the *real* cheats and scroungers; those who really need it should be allowed to claim". It's the standard getout clause for the benefits hate campaign and therefore anyone ranting about benefit cheats has carte blanche to continue because their grievance ostensibly isn't with "genuine claimants" although covertly their reality is to want to test everyone at 6-monthly intervals to ensure we meet the standard of a "genuine claimant". As long as this facade exists, the campaigning isn't going to work because it's aimed at the people who are always going to say they support that holy grail, the General Public's view of the "genuine claimant".
People are already being admitted and harming themselves as a direct result of the indescribable fear of living under this threat and it's going to get worse. But that's a good thing, because we're expendable aren't we Mr Cameron? The fewer of us around, the better your unemployment figures look. So do the decent thing and provide a legal UK-based Dignitas service where we can choose to go and ease YOUR discomfort and end our extreme distress in peace and dignity, rather than risking slow, violent and/or painful deaths, or risk failing in our attempts and having to live an even more restricted and discriminated life afterwards. See Cameron, you're inevitably going to have blood on your hands so you may as well make it official - if you want us out of the picture why not meet us halfway and help us get out of your hair. Perhaps the resulting records "I chose to die because I was too scared to live under this ConDemNation" might go some way to really making a change in the future. -
Seems the way the media are portraying us as cheats is going in their favour as it made one person in a white van run over a person whom he thought was dole scum...
so it all incites hatred and anger that way, let alone us disabled being made worse due to all of this government control and media manipulation it seems we are up against a hell of a lot, and this government should be ashamed of themselves. Blaming everything on Labour when it was all done by Cons in the 80's. It seemed Cameron was well eager to get into NO.10 it showed in his attitude and the way he was forcing things.
I agree A and E as well as Mental Health hospitals are going to be pushed to the limit, but seeing he is cutting NHS as well it seems we will all be on the streets or rounded up into camps.
If he was going on about asylum seekers the way he is with us disabled then they would not think twice about playing the racist and political correctness cards.
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seems to go from bad to worse each day...
Workshy will have to look for job or face a three-year benefits ban
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As I write, another talking head on television telling us that benefits are being claimed fraudulently and conveniently not saying that most claims are genuine. Another representative of a London council stating she is very happy with the planned LHA reforms because her council has some families costing them "thousands of pounds a week" and that to afford that rent if you were working, you would need to be earning in excess of £300,000 a year. The implication of course, that benefit claimants are living in luxury properties while "hard working families" are struggling to get by in their hovels. When is there going to be some balance?
It cannot be right that private companies engaged by the government to administer tests to benefit claimants will be paid (a bonus?) for every claimant they manage to remove from the benefits system. As private companies, their motivation is profit and an easy way to increase that profit is to find more claimants "fit for work". They will have no interest in the welfare or health of their victims.
I notice IDS yesterday denied any changes are planned for medical assessments and tried to dismiss reports as incorrect. However, today's Mail article contradicts that and further suggests that we are being targeted even more strongly. Whilst I acknowledge the work MIND is doing on our behalf, it is still concerning that, as far as I am aware, NOBODY stepped forward and publicly stated how unfair this all is and there seems to be no desire for any organised campaign against these proposals.
It's been a long time since I have felt this bad about the future. Getting to the stage of being able to cope takes a long time and a lot of hard work but it is a fragile state and it can all come undone because of this.
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It gets worse - and reading vindictive tripe like that Daily Mail article doesn't help, when you're on the receiving end it feels like a personal vendetta against you.
I already know of people who have their final plans ready and sorted in case the time comes that death is preferable to a life of poverty, possibly on the streets or at the very least in dire accommodation barely able to afford to eat. To fight as hard as we can is the preferred option of course, but if we fight all we can and still end up losing, make sure those deaths count - send final letters to Cameron, Mind, the BBC, coroner, anyone else who will have to take notice and record them officially as a result of what this government is doing to us. -
Read this please:
http://purple-noise.blogspot.com/2010/06/we-cant-go-on-like-this.html -
I think what is missing with MIND and other organisations is a swift re-activity to media based prejudice that would be necessary to prevent negative attitudes embedding in the general populace. The stakes are high and this site links to the magnitude of very real risk we are faced with:
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why are some posts being censored please? It is how people feel
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I have always worked up till 2 years ago when i had a stroke before you say i am in the wrong place my wife has a chronic mental heath issue and i was her support and now she is mine we can cope together now i am scared off what will happen with the new cuts we have to start a fight back against government and media calling us cheats etc they have no idea what life in the real world is like
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A note about the comments above mentioning suicide: We struggled with the decision to publish them, which is why there was a delay in their appearing. But because it is a common theme on the minds of our supporters, we have. However, we do have to say that this is not something Mind advocates, and that we hope that anyone contemplating harming themselves will please turn to someone for help, either friends and family, the Mindinfoline, Samaritans or another agency.
And as a reminder, please do see our commenting policy http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/comments_policy
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We are living in a Kafka type nightmare. Excluded from employment; banned from serving on juries and now the subjects of a government and media witchhunt for living on benefits (how else are we supposed to survive?). Believe me when people talk about the mythical neighbour living the 'life of riley' on benefits they mean US! How many people read these blogs apart from those with mental health problems?
Many people with mental health issues are highly intelligent people driven to despair by this regime. I would like to offer some options for us.
When you apply for a job NEVER declare a mental illness-occupational health forms are always sent with the application form to weed out people like us. To explain gaps in employment tell them you've travelled the world/worked for a charity abroad/written your first novel/had another baby/studied for a degree-anything but admitting your psychiatric history (akin to committing a crime in this country)
To supplement your JSA do some cash in hand jobs-most people will turn a blind eye if their getting a cheap cleaner or gardener.
Remember there are good people out there who don't buy into this 'scrounger/workshy' mentality but if anyone calls you that just tell them to drop dead and walk on.
Hell will freeze over before we're given a voice-we have to look after ourselves and if anyone out there is desperate and suicidal go to A and E DON'T take no for an answer and demand someone sees you.
If my IB is stopped then I will stop volunteer work I'm damned if I'm going to work for nothing while the government takes away my income.
It didn't take the Tories long to attack us did it?
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Fair enough Eve I understand that. It is an indictment of how serious current times are and everyone having these discussions privately, online or in blogs doesn't say it lightly, doesn't advocate or promote it, nor wish anyone to be in that position. It is said with the caveat of please seek help first but with the realistic recognition that some lives will probably be lost therefore we don't want anyone's death in those circumstances to end up being just a statistic and not meaning anything. If people do end up sadly removing themselves and welfare policy is the reason, it needs to be stated and heard.
I'd like to see a lot more concerted action by all the charities and celebs [who are happy to make documentaries and get awards but seem less interested in the big issues]. I'd like to see ALL the CEO's of ALL mental health and disability charities talking together with the same voice on the 10 o'clock news, in the broadsheets etc as we have noone speaking for us within parliament. It is immensely distressing to see the reams of public venom against people in the 'comments' sections of online papers. Anti-stigma campaign groups would do well to address benefit discrimination because this has emerged as a new and vicious prejudice against people who are sick, mentally distressed or disabled. When you see spoof news items of people in comas being put to work as paperweights it kind of rings true as a possibility! -
@ Eve -
No-one is advocating suicide. Believe it or not, I *want* to try to live through this hellish situation this government has put me in, I want to get through it and come out the other side in one piece - and although that prospect is looking less and less likely, it's still my ultimate aim. Otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time trying to do something about it, I'd just get it over and done with or at the very least be busy spending my final days chatting with friends and eating Haagen Dazs rather than posting on this blog!What I was saying when I spoke of suicide (and I can't speak for others but I suspect it's roughly the same point) is that IF someone has exhausted all their options, if someone has gone through all the support channels they can and still they are going to be faced with poverty and homelessness at the hands of this government, if someone really feels that they themselves wish to take the decision to end their own life rather than live the life the government would have them live - THEN please make sure their death counts for something and they let the appropriate people know exactly why they chose to make that decision.
No-one's trying to incite a mass suicide pact here! But the plain fact is, many people have already expressed their preference of death over a life of poverty, and if people are already going to choose that route then surely it's better that we do our damndest to make sure those deaths are not in vain and those people responsible are fully aware of what they have done.
Or even - hope beyond hope but it's always worth a shot - that if people get to hear just how much impact this is having on us, they may be moved to help rather than sit back and assume "if you're really sick you don't have anything to worry about, it's just the scroungers and fraudsters who are going to suffer". -
I'm aware of so many people who feel the same way as me. We are really afraid of whats going to happen to us. The government is targeting people on DLA, Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit. While I understand the country is in a bad way it seems that the most vulnerable in society - the sick and disabled, are being targeted the most. Of course these are the people who are least able to speak up for themselves.
We are being restigmatised daily in the media and by the government as scroungers, parasites on society. In truth the DWP itself estimates that 99.5% of DLA recipients are genuine. So why are the 99.5% of genuine claimants made to feel as though we are the scum of the earth?
Any person could end up on DLA or IB. I didn't used to see myself in this light. I worked full time, I was a useful member of society. Now I am disabled. Not only do I have to come to terms with my new self image, I now have to deal with the media's image of me as well.
We are genuinely terrified about what will happen. Mental illness is so hard to prove at a medical, especially one carried out by ATOS, who have targets to meet, and whose decisions are regularly succesfully appealed against. There will undoubtedly be many people who will be forced onto JSA from IB, who will lose DLA, and will eventually lose housing benefit (After 12 months on JSA you lose 10% of HB).
I really don't understand why people under a CPA, who are regularly seeing psychiatrists or CPNs need to go through this process. Why does the government not trust the opinion of NHS staff?
As for the aim of getting hundreds of thousands of people off IB. I'm sure there are people cheating the system. But its those with unseen disabilities that are most likely to find themselves failing medicals.
I too have had very dark thoughts over this situation. I am truly frightened of ending up homeless, and I won't be able to cope at all. So I know what I will do to avoid it if it comes down to it.
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Linda why should people not declare their mental health on job applications - no way would I lie as that is evading the issue and shunning mental health issues when it should not be pushed into the background it is a part of life and people need to face up to the various angles of mental health.
If I was well enough I would not leave it out, and if refused then it shows there is no way we would be employed which is probably true in most cases.
Another thing it leaves employers open to possible situations that could go wrong.
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Government are attacking the weakest who cannot defend themselves against these vile plans. The propaganda being fed through the media is relentless. Very similar to what happend in Germany under the Nazi's.
They are actively promoting hatred of the sick and disabled amongst society, its criminal. This process has been going on now for several years and is having the desired effect. MIND and other charities representing mental health sufferers in particular should be opposing these plans with vigour. The media need to be told the other side of this story. The new ESA test and no doubt the new DLA test are only designed to do one thing, Reduce the number of people able to claim benefit to save them money. They are simply "Moving the goalposts" to suit themselves. DISGUSTING. -
Hadenough-I take your point about declaring mental illness on job applications. However by saying that employers could be open to situations that could go wrong if someone does not admit to their problems confirms a worrying trend. People have been forced from their jobs not because something has gone 'wrong' but because they were seen as a POTENTIAL risk (the NHS is the worst for this). This is an indictment of the 'safety culture' that has been imposed on us all over the last 2 decades. To take it to its logical conclusion ANYONE could be a risk and nobody would be employed. Who is to say that a perfectly healthy capable employee would not become ill in the future.
Mind has constantly stated that work is vital to recovery, yet we seem to be excluded from this basic right. Yes, we can do voluntary work but after a while you start to wonder why you are good enough to work for nothing but when it comes to being rewarded for your skills there is always a problem (or a potential problem). Most people with MI do voluntary work because if they do become ill at least there isn't the same pressure to return to work. Some employers may be understanding of mental health issues but that is very rare and it is a bad reflection on society that cannot offer flexibility for people who are only too willing to be a part of society.
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And so it continues. A Conservative MP on tv today acknowledges the fact that 40% of IB and DLA appeals are successful. It's good because it shows "the system is working", taking account of the fact that with illness you may have good and bad days and that on the day of the assessment you may be found to be capable of doing anything but the next day you can't! If the assessment process was a true test of capability to work, that would be accepted and you would qualify for benfefit but it seems that If you are disabled the assumption is that there is always something that you can do - and should, regardless - so we'll deny you benefit and force you to go through an appeal procedure that will make you feel even more ill (and even less likely to contemplate taking a job) to prove what is already known. Work is not just about having a job, it's about being able to do it day in, day out, continuously without problems.
Of course, it's not about saving money but helping people because, after all, as the MP said, "you can't have much of a life on benefits"! If that's the case, why are we being portrayed as "living the life of Riley"?
NO. It's about changing the test so that NO-ONE can claim any form of sickness benefit and moving people on to benefits at a lower rate. I was unaware about the reduction in HB after 12 months on JSA. How is that going to help anyone? If you've spent 12 months being forced to apply for jobs under threat of losing benefit and no employer will take you on, how is that your fault and why should you be penalised for it? I was told today that if you have a partner working full time, you are only entitled to 12 weeks JSA.
Try telling a prospective employer that you'd love to work for him but he'll have to accept that for most of the time you won't be able to cope and may need to leave early or be absent for several days at a time. What chance of getting the job, or keeping it? This process will just keep us in an endless loop of work-focused interviews, applications, refusals, form filling, courses, assessments, stress and worsening health - all the while being accused of being "workshy". It's the dishonesty that gets me. If it's about saving money - say so - but don't dress it up as "help".
For many there will be only one way out and it is shameful that any section of society can be targeted in this way.
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While the budget and recent events are enough to stress anybody out, imagine how bad things would be if we had continued on the same course? I for one am glad that something is finally being done and look forward to a time when the UK is no longer a debt based economy that we can all be proud of. No doubt there are hard times ahead.
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I am a paranoid schizoprenic with depression who will want to employ me?its going to be worse under this government.They are the cronic normals of society running the country so how the hell would they know how us mentally ill people function? live?feel?? its all about money full stop.VOTE THEM OUT NEXT ELECTION ITS THE ONLY WAY.
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I live alone have been on Incapacity Benefit a long time so what would I live on if I were threw off and had to appeal. So as well as the worry with how the government are going about things there is also the fear of losing my home. I suppose it may be homelessness.
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Why doesn't Mind (or whoever is prepared to) do some kind of poster campaign, with statistics on number of genuine claimants vs. number of fraudulent (well, percentages anyway)? Something specifically countering the "scroungers"-type language, anyway. And I mean proper posters in big, visible public places, not those back-of-cubicle-doors, wall-of-the-doctors'-waiting-room ones.
This is an issue of people's personal safety, after all. The vilification clearly fuels hate crime.
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when is the next election though - 5 years time?
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Yes Bob F we can not carry on the same path. However if you read some of the letters on how desperate people are feeling (or have you no compassion) then you would see that taking it out on people who are already feeling desperate and vulnerable is appalling. I feel extremely concerned for my own future as a public sector worker whereby they are already stealing my pension off me which is mine that i have paid into over 28 years of working full time.Then on top of that i might be in the future made redundant. If i feel like this how must people who have to put up with been seriously ill day in day out and then been threatened with taking benefits off them, and probably some of them are already feeling suicidal HOW must they be feeling?
Instead of taking off the poor and vulnerable and ordinary working people like myself who did not cause this mess they should be taking off the richest in society. The gap between the haves and have nots has widened massively over the last 20 years. This is fact.
Therefore Bob F without making assumptions you are either in the very wealthy category and not very much affected by it all or you just like making random stupid comments and dont realise the impact it will have on the ordinary people of this country.
I am very fortunate to be healthy enough to have worked all these years. -
Having said that about homelessness, isn't it illegal to have people with mental health problems sleeping on the streets. So in that case hospitals will be inundated with people whom mental health issues wanting refuge, seems what they cut on one hand they have to give out with the other, unless hospitals will no longer have funding.
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I have just read through all of the posts on this site prior to mine. I cannot sleep now and I need to write this. And I feel shocked, dismayed and alarmed by the level of anxiety and despair felt by people with mental distress. With these impending and current government reforms.
I feel, that just like every other rushed and ill thought out policy there will be "unintended" consequences. I have been a Incapacity benefit claiment until recently and i am now liviing on much reduced benefit. I have been a volunteer over much of my life and had only limited paid work. Problems like tiredness and anxiety made keeping paid work really difficult. I enjoy "giving back" and working as a volunteer when I feel well enough to do so. And that s the key point here, I can and will work when I am well enough. That means I need flexible working. I can relate to the views of many of the previous comment posters on here. I give permission for Mind to use my comments in any way they would deem useful to fight this situation.I envisage that if the situation does not improve then many will leave their voluntary positions. And as 25% population will have mental ill health at some point then that s potentially lots of voluntary positions. Have the government factored this into the equation? (I'm sure they have because recently there was a radio campaign for more people to get involved in voluntary work. (I don't know if there was a TV campaign as contrary to popular belief I cannot afford a TV license!)That would coincide with the outcome of this plan, would it not?) Perhaps they will have to create more paid positions to make up for this, with flexible working to allow for conditions management of course.
To tackle the deficit can I suggest that the government may like to consider how Billions of pounds can be saved by NOT conducting futile and illegal "oil" motivated wars around the world. Or is that a MAD idea coming from someone with mental health problems? PS: Im not scared! (Although mental ill health was extremely scary! If you can cope with that then we can "see off" another load of self serving shambolic polititians!) Let them get this right or get it wrong at there own peril. Because come what may "their day" of assessment; (sorry fraudian slip) judgement will come! And I'm no stranger to politics! God bless! To all previous posters, he loves you all!
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One way I manage my mental ill-health is by swimming. My GP fully approves. I also take medication, but exercise has obvious other benefits. When I can't exercise, I go even lower and my family notice this change.
Now I have to fill in the form to have my IB renewed, I don't know whether to confess that I exercise. Does going for a swim several times a week constitute ability to work?
I'm scared of someone jumping to the wrong conclusion: oh, she can go out to a swimming pool, therefore why can't she go out to work? I'm scared of someone reporting me (though I do nothing wrong - I just follow guidelines on good ways to manage mental health). I'm even scared of being followed by the DWP. Am I supposed to stay at home all day and night watching the 50 inch flat screen telly which all IB claimants are known to have, looking out at the Merc in the drive (ditto)?
The current climate has made us all terribly fearful. I look urgently for some sort of clear leadership from all mental health professionals and charities, because from what I see, hear and read, there is a massive groundswell of demonising us and little noise defending us.
Even a nurse in an acute medical word in an NHS hospital (where I was being treated for a severe infection) told me to pull myself together, because no-one dies of mental illness. Really?
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Yes, there is a groundswell of noise defending ourselves in a very typically patterned way for some of us with mental distress- over-sensitivity and self-destructive behaviour or threats. I speak form experience. How many times do I tell my husband 'i might as well be dead' or ask him to murder me then, if he feels that way. Then I come back to say sorry as it was dreadful behaviour, and it really was - based in real ditress but really not fully desrved on his part, an impact of my skewed perceptions. My husband is not a monster and neither, dare i say it, is David Cameron - they are human too, they hurt from this or they disengage or fight defensively or all of those at times; especially my husband. And it is wierd to suggest use of my health and suicide potential as a weapon - that isn't really what it is about is it? If we are angry and send each other, or ourselves, off to the borderlines it does no good. We need everybody to tone it down.
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@ Kathy - I am not using a "threat" of suicide as a "weapon", nor have I ever said anyone should use suicide or threats thereof in that way. To reiterate once again, all I have said is that IF someone has exhausted all possible support options and after trying everything in their power to survive is pushed to want to end their life as a result of the reforms, then make sure they inform the right people and make their death count.
The cold truth is, the way things are going they will either stop my benefits altogether or make the claiming process so difficult and distressing that I simply won't be able to handle it. Both of those situations will be enough to make me want to end my already difficult life [if things weren't bad I wouldn't be claiming in the first place!]. I state that as simple fact, not as a threat or weapon. If I do nothing and don't speak up, I die quietly and no-one knows why. If I [and others in the same position] speak out, there is not only the chance to hold the right people accountable, but also hope that people will realise just how bad things are getting for us and maybe we have a chance to change things BEFORE suicide becomes the only option.
It's not being oversensitive, it's a last-ditch attempt at survival. -
Feeling suicidal is not 'borderline' Kathy, I've listened to people of all diagnoses, experience and ages PRIVATELY, this is how they genuinely feel, It's not a "pattern", oversensitive nor demonising Cameron. Policy has been criticised which is fair enough but benefit recipients have been demonised by the governement, media and public, you can read it on the treasury website and any newspaper comments section after an announcement or article, the comments are venemous. That's no exaggeration. People rightly fear would could lie ahead, that's not oversensitivity, that's human. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't fear losing their income/home etc. Suicide is not a weapon and not always about anger. I refuse to tone it down as someone who has lost 6 friends by suicide over the last two decades. They were not angry, dramatic, weapon waving people, they were distressed and felt like they had no other option. I face the prospect of losing more friends, some of whom don't post here, This is reality - face it, I am.
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attack aimed at those with mh problems are on the increase.
disability hate crime is on the increase.
blaming benefit claimants for the woe of the finaical crisis is on the increase.
take a look at the government "spending challenge website" to see what the view of the public are of benefit claimants.
ideas suggested are: re-open workhouses, sterilise the poor, benefit claimants to work in sweatshops, unemployed sent to afghanistan as cannon fodder, employ crocodiles in benefits offices.
this site should be closed down it is inciting hatred against most vunerable people in society.
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A Channel 4 News report last night apparently confirmed that the government IS targeting IB claimants.
From next year, everyone will be "re-scored". If you are "close to retirement age" you will be "left alone" but the rest of us will be put into the "Active" group (in other words, the government thinks we SHOULD all be at work regardless), with the intention of "helping" us "back to work". This will be done via various schemes, none of which the government wants to pay for, so they are looking for "private investment". Strange that they are unwilling to fund the schemes but will be happy to "pay a premium" to the company for every claimant they "move off benefit". Apparently we have been "left behind" and "forgotten" (according to Chris Grayling) and the reporter did refer to us as "being left to languish". Cue the interview with someone with learning disabilities who also suffers depression, who had been on IB for 12 years but is now on the Pathway to Work scheme and has found a job as a part time cleaner. It was not made clear if he had lost his IB and been "processed" on to the scheme. Congratulations to him and I am genuinely pleased that he has been able to contemplate, cope and deal with the system and find work he can do. I agree with him when he says that earning the money in your wage packet is a good feeling. HE did it - and if HE can, so can the rest of you. Not very subtle. Where was the interview with the other person who has been refused IB, forced on to ESA/JSA, cannot get a job, and who now is struggling to cope?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I do not "languish" on my IB. I cope - just. I manage - just. I am not "left behind" or "forgotten". I have a GP, Consultant Psychiatrist and a Long Term Care Team who are looking after me and who's expert medical opinion the government is determined to rubbish.
Pretty much confirmation then that the system will be rigged so that IB claimants will be forced off IB and on to ESA and JSA and all that entails, yet without being prepared to provide the specialist support for those (all?) who will struggle.
The report ended with one line about "concern that some may not be ready to take part".
We are coming to the time of year when Parliament goes into recess for the summer, so although MPs and ministers won't be so visible, the process of "targeting" will continue behind the scenes (with limited scrutiny) and by the time Parliament returns, much progress will have been made.
I see that it has been suggested that benefit claimants should do "community work" to continue to receive benefit. Is that the same sort of "community work/service" that some criminals refuse to do because it infringes their human rights?
Others here have suggested (begged for) a more proactive approach by MIND and other organisations to counter the continual villification of IB claimants by the government and in the media. Like others who came here in the last few weeks, I had hoped that with the number of comments increasing and the obvious concern being expressed, there would be a definitive, high profile statement, putting our case forward. It doesn't look as though it's going to happen but even if it does, I fear that it is already too late. The government has already made up it's mind and will implement the proposals. The "behind the scenes" work (has anyone at MIND been allowed access to the software that ATOS or others have been or will be using to assess us?) that has been done has not lessened the frequency and intensity of the attacks on us and by the time it all starts, the momentum will be too great for anyone to stop it.
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Seems to have gone quiet after the initial outburst of replies, though still very real within our reality. Also seems to have gone quiet from the media?
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Ian duncan Smith DWP Tory Secretary of State, says half way down this dail;y mail article today he now wants one and half million taken off IB onto JSA. or work related ESA, sounds more like he wants everyone on JSA if possible as soon as can be achieved.
I think these people are just ignorant banding about any figure that comes into their heads, it clearly is though the beginning of the end of sickness benefit in my view. They want a single working adult unemployment benefit whatever the circumstances of an indiviual (SWAB) which will be time limited and based on insurance like USA.
It is nothing to do with getting anyone proper supported paid jobs in my view, WORKFARE is what they want run by charities.(The Big Society). This idea may well be abandoned eventually due to costs involved in funding. The government is looking for people to put money upfront to fund the schemes and repay it through benefit cuts but not many seem interested. George Osborne the chancellor does not want tax payers money involved because he knows people will not get real jobs.
Anyone reading these comments should note New Labour introduced the legislation they are using now. The Tories could not believe their luck when labour brought in the Welfare Reform Acts under the propaghanda of supporting people into work, when new labour knew this was all about benefit cuts in my view.
The deserving and the underseving stated by Beveridge the founder of the welfare state in 1940's who 30 years previously in 1908 was involved in the theory of Eugenics if I am correct.
the undeserving were to be excluded from Society, all sounds familar, Sometimes I personally could look back in nostalgia on the old Victorian Hospitals before community care was introduce, and the land sold off to developers for profit.Many were left on their own in flats and poor accomodation, now they say that is too costly so will end up taking their HB off them if they do not comply with the sanction regime of ESA or JSA. After 12 months HB will be reduced by 10 per cent for those put on JSA if they do not get a job whether they have a disablitly or not. Mustn't forget the right of control for disabled people harped on about by government you have to laugh, I been told the independent living fund has run out of money already for this year.
Paul
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http://hoveltalk.blogspot.com/2010/07/dear-prime-minister.html
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All I can think about is a very scary future - I am totally lost for words with the way things seem to be heading...'
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Disability Living Allowance was specifically named in the Emergency Budget as a benefit that was being targeted and where substantial savings could be made. Many groups/organisations representing the disabled people and carers are reporting that this has caused an immediate wave of anxiety and concern.
At Carer Watch, a group of unpaid family carers, we have been gathering statements from some of them and their replies may interest those of you posting here. http://carerwatch.com/emergency/Individuals are informing us too as to how these proposals would affect them if implemented. Please add your own comment too
http://carerwatch.com/emergency/?p=105#commentsWe would welcome a statement from Mind that could be added to our campaign blog too. Whether disability/ill heath/ carer, this has to be a united front in this battle with the Govt.
The Alliances are already in place, for Disability, for carers, for ill health. It is not just about the organisations coming together, but also their members. One mass movement .Contact your MPs, local/National newspapers ...raise your voices in unison.
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What I do not understand is take our money away and the shops, businesses will go down hill, after all the money we are given is straight back out on bills and other expenses...'
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Good point Cath, statements from all the charities and as you say the alliances are already in place - why don't the CEO's and senior staff all meet up and agree on a joint plan of action - mental/physical health/learning disbility/carers, this impacts on so many.
There isn't much time though, the ESA changeover starts February and everyone failing their Incapacity reassessment or medical will automatically lose DLA - then entitlement to housing/council tax benefits which would have to be reapplied for as fresh claims - this would happen at the same time as having to sign on, claim the lowest level of ESA [previous JSA] all of which takes many weeks to process whilst at the same time doing two sets of appeals which take months. Then there are mandatory obligations to prove evidence of looking for work, attending courses and placements. So everyone in this position probably won't feel able to campaign on top -
We've discovered recently via another organisation that IB claimants can expect a DLA reconsideration when they get migrated on to ESA starting next February, this is further fear in addition to the already hellish ESA process and a DLA assessment effectively being carried out on information given for a completely different benefit i.e. incomplete and irrelevant. No prizes for guessing the fail rate there.
But not to worry, eh? It's just one more way the government have thought of to get us nasty evil scroungers back to work, because of course we're all able to do a 40 hour week we're just lazy.
We've also heard that the propsed new DLA medical will actually cost more money than it will ever save. So presumably it really is a labour of love for our dear old government. Aaah, isn't it nice to know how desperately they want rid of us?
Where's Mind? Nice and quiet aren't you? Considering you're the "leading mental health charity" you're not doing a very good job of "campaigning to promote and protect good mental health for everyone" at the moment! It's all very well to preen and smile when Stephen Fry comes to visit, but you have to keep it up during the unglamourous campaigns too. People are going to become homeless. People are going to be admitted to hospital. People are going to end up in A&E. People are going to end up dead. And the biggest mental health charity in the UK is keeping a conspicuous silence. I'd love to know what you stand to lose by speaking out for us, but I suspect it's simply that it's not sparkly enough to suit your celebrity-laden public image. All we get is platitudes which mean nothing, you are "deeply concerned" about this, you "have no specific policy" on that...
As has been said before, people are literally begging for your help. Individuals' voices are too small, we need your support or we will lose. So why aren't you doing anything? -
I have just spent the last two years volunteering for the CAB. The study for qualification is really intense, I did it because I felt that a recent qualification will help me get a paid job. Now I feel it is all a con. Why pay someone who is already doing this job for nothing? (Big society). I look forward to losing my DLA as well as my IB, because I will then have to give up volunteering and end up doing some cleaning job, because don't forget people with mental health problems do not have a brain!
Irony is so many people like myself are TRYING to get on with their lives, everytime we do, we are clobbered in some way.
Another irony, more people are going to become ill because of this and are going to be left to struggle as don't forget the mental health budget will be slashed.
It seems that once you are mentally ill, society organises itself to grind you further down, no wonder people relapse.
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"Some people are going to become ill" well I already am ill, and this is making things worse. Thing is I cannot do any type of work due to mental and physical health problems, though "they" are not bothered its more get them off DLA / IB and onto JSA...this government are ignoring the health of people but it's not about our health it's about what they want.
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If it is true they are doing away with DLA and IB then there is nothing to appeal against is there...' So it is basically do as we tell you from the government.
There will be riots soon, and crime will go through the roof. No wonder they are getting rid of police and bringing soldiers home, most probably to be on the streets in case we step out of line.
What can I do? Nothing...What can those who speak for us do...'
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