A CHARITY has blasted findings that show people with mental health problems aren’t finding work — despite signing up to a dedicated government programme to help them find employment.

Mental health charity Mind has accused the government of ‘failing’ Bolton residents, after figures show less than 10 per cent of people with a mental health illness found a job after using the Work Programme.

The data, broken down by parliamentary constituencies, show only 30 people out of 350 who took part in the initiative in both Bolton North East and Bolton South East found work.

The rate improved slightly in Bolton West, where 30 out of 250 people who joined the Work Programme, equivalent to 12 per cent, ended up with employment.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said most people out of work because of mental health issues were desperate to find a job, but needed proper support.

He said: “It’s perverse that programmes which are supposed to help those who are unwell and struggling to get into work are having the opposite effect, damaging their health.

“These schemes are not appropriate for people with mental health problems.

“If someone is out of work because of depression and anxiety, simply asking them to attend a CV writing course is a waste of time and money, as it doesn’t address the real problems they are facing.

“Forcing people to engage in these activities, and cutting their benefits if they struggle to do so, is inappropriate and counter-productive.”