Mental illness benefit claims up

Stress and depression are main reasons for claiming benefits

The number of people claiming incapacity benefit because of mental illness has reached an all-time high of 1.1m, say the Conservatives.

Figures obtained by the Tories show a huge rise in the numbers of people with drug and alcohol problems or suffering from stress and depression.

The party said more spending on early intervention in mental health services would save money spent on benefits.

The government said spending on mental health had risen by 25% in five years.

A Department of Health spokesman said this increase was in "real terms".

Eating disorders

BBC social affairs correspondent Kim Catcheside said in the past claimants of incapacity benefit tended to be older men with physical illnesses, such as back problems.

But now claimants were younger and more likely to be female and suffering from some sort of mental disorder.

Almost 40% of the 2.7m people who received incapacity benefits in 2006 were unable to work because of mental illness.

The number of people claiming the benefit because of stress increased by 200% to nearly 50,000 in 10 years, the figures showed.

The number of people claiming because of eating disorders had gone up by 130% from 800 in 1997 to 1,830.

And the number of people out of work because of drug and alcohol-related problems rose by 80% from 76,200 to 136,700.