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Medical chief in staff mental health treatment plea

Workers seeking treatment for mental health issues could be fast-tracked through the health system to prevent them having to take time off from work, the chief medical officer has suggested.

Professor Dame Sally Davies said the number of working days lost due to stress, depression and anxiety has increased by 24% since 2009, with the number lost due to serious mental health issues doubling.

The Department of Health's chief medical officer called on health experts to investigate whether or not it would be beneficial to speed up the treatment pathway for those who may fall out of work due to those issues.

Dame Sally said such a move could improve people's chances of staying in work.

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Mental health 'treatment gap' can no longer be ignored

The Royal College of Nursing has praised a report by the Department of Health's chief medical officer, which calls for faster treatment for people experiencing mental health issues.

The treatment gap for people with mental health problems can no longer be ignored. Not only are people with mental health problems in need of better support for their mental health conditions, but there is an unacceptable and preventable level of correlation with physical ill health.

– Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing

Around 70 million working days were lost to metal illness last year, costing the economy up to £100 billion.

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