20 thousand people cannot work due to mental problems – Kommersant

At least 20,000 Britons claim disability benefits every month due to mental health problems. According to the UK Department of Work and Pensions published by the newspaper The Guardianthis is more than two thirds of the total number of those who receive such benefits.

The department also points out that a total of 2 million Britons are currently receiving disability benefits who either find it difficult to work or are unable to work at all due to health conditions. Compared to the previous year, their number increased by 400 thousand.

Of the total benefit claims processed over the past two years, 69% were for disabilities due to “mental and behavioral disorders.” 48% of applications indicated problems with the back and joints, 20% of applications indicated heart and vascular diseases, as well as gastrointestinal diseases, 15% of applications indicated neurological diseases and diseases such as diabetes and obesity. On average, there are 2.7 diseases per applicant.

Commenting on the ministry’s data, Health Foundation think tank expert Christopher Rocks said it “confirms the growing importance of mental health to a person’s ability to work.” According to him, due to mental health problems, more and more people are on welfare, which has a negative impact on the country’s economy. The expert called on the authorities to provide “targeted support” to this group of the population. The ministry, for its part, assured that “large-scale reforms in the social sphere” will make it possible to provide “individual assistance” and reduce the number of people receiving disability benefits by more than 370 thousand people.

Alena Miklashevskaya