'Take it seriously' | EAP boss disappointed by lack of mental health mentions in PM's Labour conference speech

The chief executive of a leading Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider has expressed disappointment over the absence of mental health provisions in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's recent address at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. 

Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO of Health Assured, noted that despite Labour’s commitments to improving the nation’s wellbeing, mental health - an issue that contributes to 63% of long-term work-related absences - was not directly mentioned.

In his first conference speech as Prime Minister, Starmer outlined plans to tackle a £22 billion black hole in public finances and reverse soaring sickness benefit costs. He promised reforms such as new foundation apprenticeships and the introduction of a “Homes for Heroes” initiative to house veterans, but mental health support was notably absent.

Starmer’s focus on rebuilding the UK economy, addressing homelessness, and tackling welfare fraud, while crucial, fails to tackle the mental health crisis affecting millions of workers. The lack of concrete measures to address mental health in the workplace has left industry leaders like Stern-Gillet calling for more substantial government intervention.