Mental health: Pilots to help people find work launched

The government has launched four pilot schemes to help unemployed people with mental health problems find work.

The voluntary scheme will see some people on Employment and Support Allowance being offered employment support and psychiatric help.

The £2m pilots, all in England, will run for six months.

Ministers say they are not a precursor to forcing unemployed people with mental health problems to seek help in order to keep their benefits.

Last month, the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, said that mental health problems are costing the economy up to £100bn per annum.

Nearly half of ESA claimants (46%) have mental health problems.

The pilots are running in

• Durham & Tees Valley
• Shropshire/Telford
• Sussex
• Wolverhampton

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