PEOPLE who struggle to hold down a job because of mental health problems are being encouraged to take advantage of a new support service.

The service - I CAN Work - is described as 'the first of its kind in Wales'. It aims to help people across North Wales find and remain in employment and support their recovery from mild to moderate mental health problems.

The 12-month pilot project is being led by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in partnership with personal support services charity CAIS, and the Rhyl City Strategy, with funding from the Welsh Government.

Llinos Edwards, Service Improvement Programme Manager at BCUHB, said: "We know that many people with mild to moderate mental health problems want to work, but need extra support to do so.

"We want to encourage anybody who is struggling to please contact us so our I CAN Work Employment Specialists can provide the intensive support required to help them find and remain in employment.”

Clarence Medical Centre in Rhyl is one of the GP surgeries supporting the scheme.

Dr Simon Dobson, GP at Clarence Medical Centre, said: "We see many people with mild to moderate mental health problems every week, and we recognise that there isn’t a ‘pill for every ill’. There is strong evidence that being in work can play a key role in supporting people’s ongoing recovery from mental health difficulties.

“Health professionals and employment specialists are now working together in a much more integrated way to deliver this support across North Wales, particularly here in north Denbighshire.

“It’s invaluable to be able to work with I CAN Employment Specialists to enable people to get back to work and take control of their mental health and wellbeing.”

The programme will provide intensive ongoing support to enable people to find and remain in employment, with support provided to employers to help people keep their jobs at difficult times.

It’s the latest new service to be launched through the health board’s I CAN campaign, which aims to provide earlier support and empower people to take control of their mental health.

Visit www.bit.ly/icanwork to find out more.