Summary and Conclusions

This chapter summarises the main findings of the report, including new evidence which questions some of the myths and taboos around mental ill-health and work. People with a severe mental disorder are too often too far away from the labour market, and need help to find sustainable employment. The majority of people with a common mental disorder, however, are employed but struggling in their jobs. Neither are they receiving any treatment nor any supports in the workplace, thus being at high risk of job loss and permanent labour market exclusion. This implies a need for policy to shift away from severe to common mental disorders and subthreshold conditions away from a focus on inactive people to more focus on those employed and away from reactive to preventive strategies.