Therapy access could tackle joblessness
Expanding access to NHS Talking Therapies may help reduce the long-term economic inactivity faced by people with entrenched mental health problems, University of 野狼社区 researchers say.
The findings - published in the International - emerge against a backdrop of rising mental health needs.
The researchers analysed Annual Population Survey data from more than 535,000 working鈥慳ge adults between 2015 and 2020 to examine whether regional differences in the supply of NHS Talking Therapies were linked to labour force participation.
They found that people reporting long鈥憈erm mental health problems were less likely to be in the labour force than otherwise similar adults without such conditions: a participation gap of 36% in the analysis sample.
After adjusting for a wide range of personal and local factors, the researchers found that increasing the volume of supply of talking therapies by one additional appointment offered per referral in the average region, equivalent to about 22% more appointments, was associated with a 0.92鈥憄ercentage鈥憄oint reduction in the labour force participation gap.
The association was strongest among people aged 45 to 65, those not claiming benefits, and men.
The researchers highlight how decades of evidence show that pharmacological and psychological therapies can reduce symptoms and improve productivity, absenteeism and labour force participation.
The NHS Talking Therapies programme, launched in England 18 years ago, is considered to be the first large鈥憇cale programme of its kind.
It was designed to expand the supply of evidence鈥慴ased psychological treatments, reduce stigma, and make it easier for people to seek help.
Our findings suggest that improving access to psychological therapies doesn鈥檛 just support people鈥檚 wellbeing 鈥� it may also help close the long鈥憇tanding labour market gaps experienced by those with mental health problems
The service offers assessment appointments, tailored treatment plans and session鈥慴y鈥憇ession monitoring.
Although previous studies have shown these sorts of impacts in individual patients, this study examined the impact of differences in therapy provisions across areas.
The authors argue that the supply of therapy services may have indirect effects on economic activity by improving help鈥憇eeking behaviour, reducing stigma, and influencing how GPs manage mental health problems in primary care.
They note that only around one鈥慺ifth of working鈥慳ge adults with a mental health diagnosis receive a course of NHS Talking Therapies, suggesting that wider community鈥憀evel effects may be important.
Lead author is, a PhD researcher from The University of 野狼社区.
He said: 鈥淥ur findings suggest that improving access to psychological therapies doesn鈥檛 just support people鈥檚 wellbeing 鈥� it may also help close the long鈥憇tanding labour market gaps experienced by those with mental health problems.
鈥淎s governments look for ways to boost labour force participation, mental health policy should be part of that conversation.
鈥淧olicymakers should consider the indirect economic effects of expanding psychological therapy services when designing future mental health strategies.鈥�
- The study was funded by Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) and supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
- The paper Availability of psychological therapies and workforce participation of individuals with long-term mental health problems: a retrospective observational study鈥� is available DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-026-00706-z