Brits on benefits are ‘self-diagnosing’ their mental health problems, admits Work and Pensions Secretary

BRITS on benefits are “self-diagnosing” their mental health problems, the Work and Pensions Secretary admitted yesterday.

Liz Kendall said that social media and less stigma around mental illness has contributed to a huge rise in the number of economically inactive adults.

On Tuesday Ms Kendall will unveil details of major reforms to deflate Britain’s welfare Bill by £3billion over five years.

The proposed changes could see 400,000 people have their benefits cut.

Universal credit recipients who refuse job offers or to engage in skills training face sanctions on their handouts.

There are currently 4.2 million working aged people claiming health-related benefits, with the figure set to rise by 30 per cent by the end of the decade.

Ms Kendall told the BBC: “I do think we are seeing an increase in the number of people with mental health problems, both self-diagnosed – I think it’s good that stigma has been reduced – but also diagnosed by doctors.”

Asked whether she believed that “normal feelings” were being “over medicalised”, the Work and Pensions Secretary said: “I genuinely believe there’s not one simple thing.

“There is a genuine problem with mental health in this country.”

Yesterday the Tories accused Labour ministers of “pussyfooting” around mental health issues and the need to “reduce costs”.

Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “There are some people in desperate situations with depression.

“But getting people into work is usually good for those people. So that’s what we’ve got to do.

“I think we have pussyfooted around it and yet we need to really change that approach now and really tackle this issue while we can.”