Mind responds to UK Government plans for work coaches in mental health hospitals
Earlier today the BBC published a story on proposals by the UK Government for job coaches to visit people in mental health hospitals to help them get back to work.
Responding to the proposals, Minesh Patel, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, said:
“We’re still waiting to see the full details of the scheme and results of the trials, but there are important unanswered questions, crucially whether it will be optional or mandatory.
“We know good quality work is an important part of recovery for some people with mental health problems, bringing a sense of purpose and much-needed income. But too many people end up in low-paid, insecure and inflexible work, leading to financial worries and further poor mental health. In order to best help people with mental health problems back into work we need effective support in the workplace, voluntary employment support programmes that are not tied to sanctions, and an increased and more flexible statutory sickness pay.
“Mental health hospitals can too often be left out of public conversations on mental illness and it’s important there is a spotlight on them. Right now, too many people with the most serious mental health problems are left more traumatised by their stay in hospital. If we want people to join or rejoin the workforce, they need safe and compassionate care that helps them truly get better. But for many, the reality is feeling unsafe, unheard and facing coercive treatment on run-down wards that feel “prison like”. We need the government to prioritise raising the standard of inpatient care and reform the Mental Health Act, to make sure people can get the care they need, when they need it.”
