PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Early day motion 661, tabled 6 January 2015 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 27 members.

That this House is aware that many people with mental health problems find it difficult to work because of the impact of their condition and the lack of appropriate support and understanding from employers and that currently nearly half of those receiving employment and support allowances are claiming primarily because of their mental health condition; believes that many people with such health problems want to and many are able to return to work with the right kind of help; recognises that current Government-funded schemes are currently failing this group with three times more without this condition being helped back into work; praises the mental health charity MIND, which has highlighted this fact; and calls on the Government to take people suffering from such conditions out of the current back to work schemes and instead create a new individual programme which understands the needs of this group of unemployed people that provides them with the personalised and specialist support they need.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, DUP 4, Independent 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.