British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to crack on what he has labelled Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people the UK claiming welfare benefits because mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain the economy, and the number people not working was creating labour shortages. The number sick notes issued doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic 2020. The most common diagnoses being given doctors are related to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do not what you can't."
Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back employment. He said: "We need to be more ambitious helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive the last year cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are breaking point following years underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front their culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".
