Working our way to better mental health

Mental ill-health presents a major challenge to the well-being of our society, and the strength of our economy. It blights lives, traps people in poverty and prevents the country harnessing the talents and potential of hundreds of thousands of people. Mental ill-health is now the most common reason for claiming health-related benefits and 86 per cent remain on the benefits for more than three months. But as well as having a major impact on individuals and their families, the cost of poor mental health to the country is also very high. A recent review of the health of Britain's working-age population carried out by Dame Carol Black estimated that over £100 billion is lost to the economy through ill-health and associated sickness absence and unemployment, and the Government estimates around one third - £30-40 billion - can be attributed to mental ill-health, in lost production, and National Health Service (NHS) treatment. This first national framework for mental health and employment establishes a cross-government approach to tackling this cost and waste. The framework identifies six key areas where action is vital: action to change attitudes to mental health; action to improve health and well-being at work for the whole population; swift intervention when things go wrong; co-ordinated help tailored to individuals' needs both in and out of work; action to build resilience from early years and throughout working lives; co-ordinated action across government to ensure successful delivery. Action will be directed towards changing attitudes, supporting employers and joining up mental health, employment and other support services in government.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Mental Health. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.