Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.

DWP is actively committed to creating an environment where open conversations around mental health are encouraged in order to tackle the associated stigma and discrimination.

Activities undertaken since signing the Time to Change pledge in February 2014 include:

1) the introduction of training, including Unconscious Bias and Mental Health Awareness;

2) staff communications from the DWP Champion for Disability, Wellbeing and Work Life Balance;

3) development of comprehensive support and guidance for all staff through on-going work with external partners such as Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Providers and Business Disability Forum.