People with mental ill health, may be worse off with changes to Incapacity benefits

Everyone has days when they feel miserable; ups and downs are an inevitable part of life, however for some people these lows don’t go away, they can become overpowering and affect their ability to cope with everyday life. It is estimated 1 in 4 people in Britain will experience some form of mental distress at some point in their lives. Many of these people end up having to go on benefits for a while. However mental health charities suggest that they may be worse off under the government’s new benefit changes.

In October last year Incapacity benefit, and Income support, paid on the grounds of illness or disability changed for new customers; and has now been replaced with the new Employment and Support allowance (ESA). This new allowance aims to help get 1 million people off Incapacity benefits by 2015.

The emphasis of ESA is getting people back into work. The main difference is that within weeks of getting signed off from work, claimants are sent for a new ‘Work Capability Assessment’ undertaken by an expert health professional. In the first thirteen weeks of a new claim, while waiting to be assessed, people will receive a reduced rate of benefit. At the assessment if their illness or disability is considered severe enough, then they will go into a ‘support group’ and receive a higher rate of ESA benefit. Other claimants will go into the ‘work group’ and will be required to engage in a back to work programme. Failure to do so is likely to result in cuts in their benefits.

At the moment people on the old Incapacity benefits will not be affected by these changes, however the Department of Work and Pensions report that, all existing Incapacity benefit claimants should be transferred onto the Employment and Support allowance by 2013.

The Mental Health forum suggest that the majority of people with mental health problems do want to return to work, and therefore sanctions on benefits are completely unnecessary. With 40% of Incapacity benefit claimants having mental health problems, the worry with the new Employment and Support allowance is that it will cause claimants added distress without getting them any closer to a job, and maybe even push them into work that is unsuitable.

Previously Incapacity benefit provided a security for people with mental ill health that may have been difficult for them to give up on. Therefore the introduction of a more personalised system, to help people get back into work, is a good opportunity to change a situation where people are stuck in the benefit system. It has been suggested that three-quarters of the 2.6million people claiming Incapacity benefits are actually capable of work; and that the new Employment and Support allowance can give people who may have abandoned work because of depression, that little extra push that they need to get back into employment.

One of the concerns raised, is that the professionals employed to undertake these assessments, may have a general medical background but not have enough expertise in the area of mental health, and therefore would not be suitably qualified to make accurate judgements. Mental health problems are not as visible as other disabilities; and can also fluctuate from day to day. Without having the specialist knowledge in this area of health, it is very possible that people will get placed into the wrong group.

It is also very possible that these assessments can exacerbate mental illness. When a person first goes off sick, it is often the time when they need the most support, and may be finding life overwhelming and difficult to cope with. Just waking up and facing the day can be extremely difficult, and yet while people are feeling like this, not only will they most probably find themselves dealing with financial hardship, they also have to face going to a formal interview. This undoubtedly is going to add unnecessary psychological stress on people who are already extremely anxious, and is quite likely to result in symptoms worsening.

However for the majority of people with mental health problems who do want to work; having access to support, to help achieve this is likely to be very useful. Having a sense of purpose, which working can provide, can help raise people’s self esteem and confidence. Also having structure to the day, participating in activity, interacting with people, and learning new skills can all have a positive effect on a person’s mental health.

Upon being placed in the work group, claimants will automatically be referred to a ‘Pathways to work’ advisor, who be able to offer personalised support and financial help to get them back into work, if they are able. They can also look at overcoming any barriers to work, help with how people can manage their disability or health condition within a work context, and refer them to any training that may help in finding employment.

Whether the timing of these changes to the benefit system is right, at a time when jobs are becoming so scarce is also debateable. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics report that before December 2008, the number of job vacancies had dropped by 153,000 over the year, and a high proportion of those; 69,000 were from the three months just before December. They reported that this was the lowest figure of job vacancies since 2001. With the countries economy in such a bad way, the number of jobs available is likely to drop even further.

Another barrier for people with mental health issues are employer’s attitudes. Mind, a leading mental health charity, suggest that helping people with mental health problems back into employment, will not work unless requirements are also put on employers. In a recent study undertaken by them, they found the stigma attached to mental ill health is still rife. It is reported that fewer than 4 in 10 employers would be willing to employ people with mental health problems. Mind put forward that employer’s opinions are the biggest barriers to employment, and suggest the government should provide training for employers to try and inform and change these attitudes.

It seems that Employment and Support allowance may provide an opportunity to change the situation where people are stuck in the benefit system, and it may well be able to help people who want to work find employment. However introducing sanctions if people do not co-operate, and having to attend formal assessments is very likely to cause added stress and possibly even exacerbate mental illness. The practicalities of ESA are also debateable, as the number of jobs available is likely to keep dropping in the current economic climate. ESA is also unlikely to work while a high number of employers are unwilling to take on people with mental health issues. It is evident that changes may not be effective until the health professionals, the advisors, and employers have undertaken substantial training in the area of mental health. As it is now, people with mental ill health, may indeed be worse off under the Employment and Support allowance.


For information look at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/incapacity.asp
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_015412.xml.html

The wheel of the year
Forgotten festivals in a modern world

As part of the New Year celebrations we often find ourselves reflecting on the past year, and looking forward to the future; however we are not so likely to think about why we are celebrating on this day. New Years day actually only started to be celebrated universally on January the 1st, many years after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in the sixteenth century.

Before the advent of clocks and calendars, people were more in tune with nature’s timing; without electrical lighting they woke when the sun rose and slept when it went down, and they followed the cycles of the seasons as opposed to being a slave to the 24/7 hectic lifestyle most of us follow today.

Throughout the ‘wheel of the year’ people celebrated eight seasonal festivals, which surrounded the natural cycles of the sun and moon. Without even knowing it many of us may still be working with the seasons rather than against them; for example in Winter as its colder and the days are shorter, we may stay in more, and so this can be a time for introspection, reflection and possible spiritual growth. Whereas the beginning of summer is a good time to start creative projects, to get out and about, and for socialisation and procreation.

Four of the festivals (the solstices and equinoxes) celebrate the power of the sun and the moon at the time. The Equinoxes represent the middle/turning points of a season, while the solstices represent the beginning of a new season. The other four festivals, are Celtic in origin, and are linked more with the annual cycle of planting and harvesting of crops. This article will take a brief look at the eight festivals, and throughout the coming year I will look at the Celtic celebrations in more detail.

These festivals were traditional throughout Europe, and predated Christianity. However as you read through this article, it is quite apparent that the Christian faith has adopted a lot of the celebrations. There are many theories as to why they did this; one being that they wanted to make their new faith appeal to people who would had been worshipping and celebrating the old ways for centuries. Slowly over time the focus of the festivals changed from being a time to celebrate the natural cycles of the earth, sun, and moon, to becoming considered to be holy days.

Samhain, The Celtic New Year October 31st

Samhain is Gaelic for ‘the summers end’ and is known as the Celtic New Year; it marks the end of the summer and the start of the winter. It is a time for reflection of the past year and to look forward to the future. It is believed that this is the one time of the year when the veil between this world and the other world is at its thinnest. The other world could therefore release fairies and mischievous spirits, and the dead could return to warm themselves by the fires of the living.

During the celebrations the Celts built huge sacred bonfires, sacrificed animals and brought food to share in a celebratory feast. They also often wore costumes such as animal heads and skins.

Samhain is one festival that seems to have been adopted by Christianity. The modern day Halloween is from the Christian festival called All Hallows eve. This and the following two days; All Saints and All Souls day were for remembering and honouring the dead.

Winter solstice, Yule, or Albun Arthuran December 21st or 22nd

This is the shortest day of the year, and is when the moons power is as it’s strongest. It is thought the winter solstice celebrations started when people feared the sun would die, so they decorated evergreen branches and lit fires, which they believed would transfer energy from the evergreens, give power to the sun and stir up new life.

It is traditionally celebrated by feasting and putting up holly wreaths (which symbolised the wheel of the year), and hanging lights from evergreen branches. The traditional Pagan Yule celebration is also a twelve day event ending on the twelfth night in the first week of January.

The focus of celebrations are the rebirth of light after being overwhelmed by darkness on the shortest day of the year, and the hope of lighter and longer days to come.

Imbolc, Imblog or Oimelc February 2nd

Imbolc means ‘ewes milk’ and this festival celebrates the beginning of the return of the light, the start of the lambing season, and the first green shoots appearing. It refers to the potential for growth in whatever area of life growth is needed.

Imbolc represents the end of winter (actual and emotional). It is a time of new ideas, and a good time to take the first steps of launching new projects. Although this is the first festival of spring, the land is often still frozen at this time, so Imbolc is a reminder that new life stirs within the earth.

Spring equinox, Alban Eiler, or Ostara March 21st

The day and night are of equal length, however from this point the suns power gets stronger and the days start to increase in length. Fertility returns to the land and this is traditionally a time to plant new seeds. Alban Eiler is Gaelic for ‘the light of the earth’; a light which is returning after the winter. In pre-Christian times, one story tells of the maiden goddess mating with the sun god to conceive a new child of light at this time.

This is a time of new beginnings, such as starting new creative projects or maybe a new love. It represents a time and opportunity for change, and for saying goodbye to anything in your life you don’t want anymore. Many cultures celebrated New Year on this date, before the introduction of calendars.

Beltane or Beltaine May 1st

Beltane is a celebration of the first day of the summer. It comes from the Celtic word meaning ‘bright fire’. Fires were traditionally lit to symbolize the strength of the sun. On the eve of May, the Celts lit fires using nine different types of wood, and cattle were driven between the fires to cleanse them and to encourage fertility. Beltane is also said to be a great time for fairy activity especially around standing stones.

Beltane has even stronger energies, associated with fertility, than the spring equinox. It is a time for increased optimism, confidence, and energy in any projects you want to take on board, and it is also a good time for passion and the consummation of love.

Summer solstice, Midsummer, Litha or Alban Heruin June 21st or 22nd

This is the longest day; when the suns power is at its height, and fruit is ripening. It is a celebration of light triumphing over darkness, and the beauty light brings to life. The summer solstice represents power and joy; and it’s a time when happiness, strength, and energy are at its highest. It is one of the festivals that are still celebrated today, on the eve of the solstice at stone circles such as Stonehenge.

Stories tell of the sacred marriage of the earth and the sky, or the land king and the goddess or priestess. At the summer solstice the God’s power and virility has reached its most potent, and he knows that after the festival he will start to lose this energy. In a bid to stop the God’s power from diminishing, the Goddess, who was very much in love with him, would light fires and throw sun wheels down a hill.

Lammas or Lughnassadh August 1st or 2nd

Lammas is a celebration of the harvest of grains. Lammas or ‘loaf mass’ in Saxon language was a time when the first grain was baked into bread and cakes. It is also a time of giving thanks to nature for all it provides, and a time to ‘count our blessings’.

In Celtic tradition Lughnassadh is the festival of the Irish god Lugh; who dies every year with the harvesting of crops. His spirit descends into the earth to be reborn later on in the year.

Autumn Equinox, Alban Elued, or Mabon September 21st or 22nd

Now day and night are of equal length again, but this time the moons power is getting stronger and the days start to shorten. This is a time for completing tasks, resolving disagreements, consolidating finances, and generally getting things in order.

Alban Elued is Gaelic for ‘light on the water’ and refers to the sun moving away over the water and leaving darkness behind. The Autumn Equinox is the final festival of the season of harvest, and is also traditionally a time when animals are slaughtered and preserved to provide food for the winter months. It is time to recognise that the wheel of the year has turned, and summer is now over.