UK expands scheme to help people with mental health problems find jobs

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The UK government has expanded a scheme aimed at helping people with mental health problems find work.

Government invests £122m ($135m) to provide employment advice to people on mental health support so they can stay in the job or return to the job market faster The Ministry of Labor and Pensions announced on October 10 that it is expanding services to .

The service is already fully operational in 40% of the country, including Cheshire and Wirral. Over the next three years, we plan to expand the recruitment and training of approximately 700 employment advisors nationwide.

According to the government, the scheme will allow up to 100,000 people with common mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression to access employment advisors and help them “start, stay and succeed.” can receive

It comes at a time when the UK is facing a severe labor shortage that is impacting the country’s economic recovery.

Hundreds of thousands of people have left the labor market entirely since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

There are now 640,000 more ‘economically inactive’ people in the UK than before the pandemic, and around 350,000 people of working age have long-term ailments, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It has been.

“Drive Down Inactive”

Labor and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith said the expansion would “reduce inactivity” and boost economic growth.

she said:

“Enabling people access to both clinical mental health support and employment advice provides them with the tools they need to find and return to work. , is essential to allowing the economy to grow, provide more funding, and support public services like this.”

Health Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey said the move would improve the nation’s mental health and grow the economy.

“A nation’s good physical and mental health is also good for its economic health, and this government is committed to helping those who are unable to work because of illness.

“Providing people receiving mental health support access to employment advisors can help them start, stay and succeed in work, improve their health and resilience, and boost the economy. let it grow.”

PA Media contributed to this report.

Alexander Chan

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