Mental Illness: Sick Leave

(asked on 18th October 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 2017 HSE Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on its findings that mental health and stress account for 49 per cent of all days taken off work; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Matt Hancock Portrait
Matt Hancock
This question was answered on 23rd October 2018

The Secretary of State often speaks with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

The Health and Safety Executive as an agency of the Department for Work and Pensions sets standards and provides resources and guidance for employers to take positive actions that promote good mental health for all employees whatever the nature of their contract.

In the Industrial Strategy, the Government set out the five principles that we believe underpin the quality of work. These principles are: overall worker satisfaction; good pay; participation and progression; wellbeing, safety and security; and voice and autonomy.

Further, the Government also recognises the importance of mental health which is why the Prime Minister commissioned the Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer, the Chief Executive of Mind, to conduct an independent review, Thriving at Work into how employers can better support all employees, including those with mental ill health or wellbeing, to remain in and thrive at work. It presented a compelling business case for employers to take action to improve the wellbeing of their employees providing recommendations for all employers to adopt six core standards that lay the basic foundations for an approach to workplace mental health.

Reticulating Splines