The Government is offering support to help people with mental health problems stay in work.

Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Employment, has said that people with mental health problems will get extra support managing their condition to remain in the workplace.

Early indications of the government led pilots, run in conjunction with the mental health charity Mind, have shown to be 90 per cent successful in helping people with fluctuating mental health conditions retain their jobs.  

Based on this trial, the Government is now looking to extend the support, with an expectation of rolling out nationally with a range of providers.

Knight said:

"I know disabled people dearly want to stay in work and their employers want to do everything they can to keep good staff. Our plans to offer the right help early on can end the downward spiral of people falling out of work into sick leave, and onto benefits. We are all agreed that helping people stay in work is good news for them, their bosses and for the taxpayer."

Further measures introduced by the Government include:

- A National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment, for publication in the autumn. The strategy will include expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals in improving well-being in the workplace.

- Ministers have asked mental health expert Dr Rachel Perkins and Paul Farmer Chief Executive of Mind how tp better help people with mental health problems back to work.

- A new network of dedicated mental health experts across Jobcentre Plus will work together with colleagues in the health system to coordinate support for people who have mental health conditions.

- A consultation on Right to Control, which will give disabled people, including those with mental health problems, greater choice and control over how public money is spent to meet their individual needs and ambitions.

- Doubling the Access to Work fund, from £69m to £138m over the next five years.

- providing practical advice and financial support to disabled people and their employers to help them overcome work-related obstacles resulting from disability.

Sophie Corlett of Mind said:

"If employers put their mind to it and provide the right support they can keep their staff mentally well and fit for the workplace. People with mental health problems want to work but are often failed by employers who lack the understanding or the skills to provide the necessary support. We welcome the Government's increased investment in mental health, particularly during these difficult economic times, when now more than ever people need the support and understanding of their employers."

For more information view: www.dwp.gov.uk