Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will guarantee a place on an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies course for people on incapacity benefit suffering from poor mental health.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapy Services (IAPT) are open access services treating people with depression and anxiety disorders in primary care. People on incapacity benefits who have depression or an anxiety disorder can access these services via either their GP or self-referral.

In England individuals who are referred are guaranteed an assessment to see if they could benefit from an IAPT treatment. It would be the patient’s decision as to whether they took up that offer or not. If the patient is not suitable for treatment they will be signposted to a mental health service or other service that is better able to meet their needs.

Mental health services exist in Wales and Scotland but are a devolved matter and responsibility of the Scottish or Welsh Governments.

In addition, Access to Work can also offer help to people with mental health conditions such as with communication support at job interviews, disability awareness training for colleagues when a person starts work and Access to Work’s Mental Health Support Service can offer support to individuals with a mental health condition who are absent from work or finding work difficult.