The Work and Pensions Secretary has claimed that Britain’s soft attitude to mental health may have gone “too far” and people are confusing “normal anxieties” with mental health issues.
Secretary Slams Mental Health
A Conservative MP has slammed Britain’s mentality towards the mental health crisis, arguing that the sympathetic approach has “Gone too far.”
What Is “Normal?”
Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, suggested that people who experience “normal” anxieties that are part and parcel of life are confusing it with a mental health issue.
Impact on Welfare Spending
Stride’s remarks come in the wake of a £100 billion welfare bill faced by the country, which he claims is because of workers taking mental health sabbaticals.
Has Mental Health “Gone Too Far?”
Stride did claim that he was happy with the attitude towards mental health, although pointed out a possibility that it could go “too far” as more people take time off work.
Stride’s Warning
Stride admitted he was “grateful for today’s much more open approach to mental health,” but warned, “There is a danger that this has gone too far.”
Confusing Life With Illness
Stride insisted that the danger lies in confusing normal anxieties that come with life’s struggles with mental health issues, causing people to think they have an illness.
“Normal Ups And Downs” Are Not Conditions
“There is a real risk now that we are labelling the normal ups and downs of human life as medical conditions,” according to Stride.
Driving Up The Benefit Bill
Stride claimed that it was these alleged confusions that “actually serve to hold people back and, ultimately, drive up the benefit bill.”
Stride Accuses Public of Confusion
Stride argued that people are “convincing themselves they have some kind of serious mental health condition as opposed to the normal anxieties of life”.
Stride’s Plan to Tackle Mental Health
Stride is pushing forward his idea to make it compulsory for those deemed not fit for work for mild mental health issues to take up jobs from home instead.
Doctor’s Notes an Issue
According to Stride, members of the public who feel “rather down and bluesy” can go to the doctor and be told they don’t have to work.
94% Allowed Time Off Work
Stride believes that it only takes a brief conversation with the doctor for this to happen, arguing that a “seven-minute” conversation leads to time off work “94% of occasions.”
Compulsory Work-From-Home Idea
With the benefits bill being one of the highest it has ever been in the UK, the Work and Pensions Secretary wants to make working from home compulsory in these situations.
Sunak Backs Stride’s Case
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has backed Stride’s argument, revealing that he doesn’t think “it’s right” that so many people are taking time off work for their mental health.
Sunak’s Encouragement to Work
Sunak has pledged his commitment to reducing the number of people taking time off work, arguing “We should be encouraging everyone who can to work.”
Work is Good For Mental Health
Stride argued that the nation has “forgotten” how beneficial working can be for someone’s mental health.
2.5 Million People Signed Off
Sunak revealed that almost “2.5 million” people in the UK are currently signed off from work and not making an effort to look for work, arguing “I don’t think that’s right.”
Time For The Country to “Grow Up”
With the backing from the Prime Minister, Stride suggested that it was time the people of the country “start having an honest, grown-up debate” about mental health.
Factors Contributing to Mental Health Crisis
As the country faces a cost-of-living crisis combined with an economic recession, many members of the public face increased stress and pressure to pay the bills.
UK “Second-Most” Depressed Nation
These factors have resulted in the UK recently being labelled the “second-most depressed” in the world.
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Oscar Davies, an expert in US and UK politics and sports, is renowned for his sharp and engaging writing style, appealing to a broad spectrum of readers.