Mind responds to ONS report on the impact of NHS Talking Therapies on employment status
A report published by the ONS today highlights how NHS talking therapies help people with mental health problems get back into work.
Key findings include:
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The probability of being a paid employee within seven years of starting treatment increased to a maximum of a 1.5 percentage points
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People who were not working but seeking work (unemployed) at the time of referral benefited the most from completing NHSTT treatment
Reacting to today's ONS data on the impact of NHS Talking Therapies, Mind's Associate Director of Policy and Influencing, Minesh Patel, said:
“This ONS data suggests that supporting people with their mental health can have positive knock-on impacts for employment too. However, with over 2 million people on waiting lists for NHS mental health services, too many people aren't currently getting the support they need.
“We know there are many people with mental health problems who would like to be able to work, but who simply don’t have the right support available. Without it many are faced with being locked out of the chance of working or pushed to return to work before they are well enough, leading to worsening symptoms which impedes their recovery.
“It is essential that the government properly fund the right kind of support, including early intervention, which helps reduce the impact on the NHS, as well as community mental health services for people who are more unwell and for whom NHS talking therapies isn't always enough. That’s why we’re calling on the UK government to invest in our mental health services as demand continues to rise. This must include retention of the Mental Health Investment Standard as a minimum.”
