30 November 2016
What: Five British psychotherapy organisations publish a statement expressing their concern that “the sanctions process is undermining mental health and wellbeing”. The statement is signed by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Psychoanalytic Council, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies and the British Psychological Society. The statement says: “The links between the sanctions regime and the mental health and wellbeing of individuals should be subject to an independent review…[there has been] no commitment from the Government to investigate how the jobcentre systems and requirements may themselves be exacerbating mental health problems. We continue to call on the Government to address these concerns and suspend the use of sanctions subject to the outcomes of an independent review.”
Why significant: Demonstrates professional awareness, and attempts to warn the government, of the dangers of the sanctioning regime.