Welfare Cuts: No help for those with Mental Health problems and cuts to benefits

Our opinion

Most people agree that the benefits system needs reform, and with that, save a few quid, but not at the expense of the majority both disabled individuals and those with complex and lifelong mental health problems.

To attack these people by taking away vital money that is rightfully theirs is not only unfair but downright evil and will no doubt sink Labour even further into the mud they have already created for themselves.

Let’s look at mental health. To help people with moderate to severe mental illness, they will need a care coordinator and likely a support worker, a GP who they can see when needed, and if possible, small hubs where they can go to chat to people also with mental health issues.

This was the case for years before the pandemic; then everything basically collapsed, and people who had previously had support were left with only the GP to help, as services that they once had supporting them were gone, leaving very vulnerable people in a worse situation.

No longer did many of these people have a care coordinator or contact from anyone apart from the GP. Even during the pandemic, things were really bad, with psychiatrists making monumental mistakes, which worsened the situation.

The situation as of now is much the same, with only Talking Therapies and Living Well being offered to all people, no matter how poor the person’s mental health is. These two time-limited schemes, from what we know, are dreadful and a serious waste of tax payers money!

We are aware that Talking Therapies has a long wait to see someone, and Living Well is shorter but time-limited to just six sessions!

Talking Therapies is not about helping with your mental health; it’s about getting a job, and it is not for those with lifelong mental health issues. The other is Living Well, which is a little better, where you get to see someone and talk a bit about the issues you have. However, not much help is offered, as it’s not meant to be therapy, and the idea really is to get you into a voluntary group.

The current Labour government is pushing for people with mental health issues and disabilities to get into work; however, to hit them all on the chin is not playing fair and is cruel. We suggest to the government that they fix the mental health services, get people back happy and confident again, hire more support workers, and then slowly get them into training or voluntary jobs.

We think everyone understands the financial issues facing this country; however, hitting the most vulnerable in the pocket is as bad as it gets. If they got things right from the start, things would be not only easier but fairer for all.

The politicians claim some people are taking advantage; maybe some are! However, what the government is saying is that the doctors are telling lies, that they are in some way useless and buy everything! If this is correct, then we feel the doctors need to stand up and tell this ‘trial and error’ Labour government where to shove it, and that they are not telling lies and will hold them to account for any more of the nonsense.

Similarly, the opposition parties need to shout louder to defend doctors, which will ensure integrity.

Labour MPs are already unhappy with what is going on, not just with the welfare cuts and the weasel words often used by those on the front bench to either deflect blame or not answer a question.