One expert has said that mental illness sufferers should be able to enjoy being part of the workforce.Employees with mental health problems should be able to go back to work easily and enjoy equality, according to an expert.

Sally Burton, an executive director at the Shaw Trust, a charity that helps disabled people be more independent, said that part of the solution could rest with doctors and other health professionals.

“Through better diagnosis and subsequently, appropriate treatment plans, we can help people to get back into work and develop long-lasting and rewarding careers,” she added, explaining that people suffering from mental illness deserve the same employment opportunities as those who are healthy.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry recently revealed that psychiatric disorders in young adults could lead to reduced participation in the workforce, lower income and a lower standard of living in later life.

Ms Burton warned that there is still “a great deal of stigma” relating to mental illness because of distorted views.

Posted by Colette Paxton