Responding to recent language dismissing the seriousness of mental illness
The College felt it important to publicly respond with our disappointment at the recent language used by the government around mental health and sick leave.
It follows two speeches in a month focused on what the Prime Minister has referred to as the UK's ‘sick note culture’.
You will likely have seen our initial response to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, on 21 March, where we refuted the suggestion that people are being signed off too easily for mental health conditions.
But did you see how that response then placed us in a prominent position following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a review of the UK’s ‘sick note culture’ last week?
Newspapers across the country ran the story on Friday (19 April) morning of the speech, which warned against ‘over-medicalising everyday worries’, with our earlier comments leading the reactions.
It gave the College the time and space to prepare a full response to the announcement of the review of the current ways in which people are signed off from work.
Our President, Dr Lade Smith CBE, issued a comprehensive – and robust – response, outlining our view that the language used is dismissive of the reality of mental illness and threatens to reinforce the stigma the government is committed to eliminating.
We also welcomed the chance to contribute to the call for evidence on Fit Note Reform. We will use this opportunity to advise which treatments will be most effective and how to increase the commissioning of mental health services to close the treatment gap and reduce the growing waiting lists.