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In “Sickness and work is a disaster that must be fixed” (Opinion, FT Weekend, September 2) Camilla Cavendish argues the compelling point that while much has been made of getting the over-50s back to work, the biggest relative jump in economic inactivity has been among young people, many of whom have signed off work because of long-term mental health conditions.
Mental health problems often first arise in adolescence or early adulthood, and they can derail people’s education and careers, holding them back from their potential in life.
Cavendish points out that “leaving people waiting weeks or months to talk to a therapist is not good for mental health”. The issue is not just one of access, but also of the limited range of interventions which are available to help people once they make it through the system.
While many people benefit from existing mental health treatments, from so-called talking therapies to pharmacological options, they do not work for everyone. By investing in mental health science, we can understand more about why mental health conditions develop and resolve. Through research we will find ways to intervene as early as possible with more personalised, rather than “one- size-fits-all” treatments.
We are already at a tipping point with mental health science, with new and improved interventions emerging. These include digital interventions, new pharmacological treatments for psychosis, and low cost ways to harness our sleep and circadian rhythms.
Governments around the world need to back mental health science. As the UK’s political parties gear up for the next general election, I hope we will see investment in mental health research and attention for this urgent health challenge prioritised alongside the most pressing physical health needs. It has never been more important to have a government that commits to finding effective solutions for those with mental health problems.
Professor Miranda Wolpert
Director of Mental Health, Wellcome, London NW1, UK
