Mental health patients will be helped to stay in work

More support will be given to people suffering from mental health conditions in the workplace under new plans from the government.

The proposals come following a series of successful pilot schemes and will aim to give people with mental health problems extra support to manage their conditions.

Ministers have also asked mental health expert Dr Rachel Perkins and Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, to provide new ideas on how to help people with mental health problems get back into work and help their career development.

The new measures introduced by the government, including a national strategy for Mental Health and Employment, will detail expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals in improving well-being in the workplace.

The Access to Work fund will also be doubled from £69 million to £138 million over the next five years.

Sophie Corlett, Mind's director of external relations, said: "If employers put their mind to it and provide the right support they can keep their staff mentally well and fit for the workplace."

According to the Office for National Statistics, one in four British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, and one in six people experience this at any given time.