Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with mental illness who take regular absences from work.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) offer a range of support for those with mental health problems to stay in and return to work. This includes the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, and Individual Placement Support for people with common mental health and/or physical health conditions.

On 10^th October 2022 (World Mental Health Day), we announced the expansion of a joint programme by DWP, DHSC, and NHS England. This extension will spend £122 million to expand the provision of Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services across England (EAs in IAPT). This voluntary service will recruit an additional 700 employment advisers to support people with common mental health conditions to improve their mental health, whilst also helping them stay in or find work.