MPs reveal mental health problems Almost a fifth of MPs have suffered mental health problems at some time, a survey suggests.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health also found that 86% thought being an MP was stressful.

The report criticises the law forcing MPs to give up their seats for life if they are sectioned for six months under the Mental Health Act.

Joint chairman Sandra Gidley said work on "challenging stigma" was needed. Some 94 MPs took part in the survey.

Norwegian PM

One in three of them said colleagues' attitudes and the possibility of a hostile media reaction prevented openness about mental health issues.

If an MP is physically incapable of working for six months they would not have to stand down, whereas those sectioned for the same period would.

Ms Gidley, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "Greater openness at Westminster about mental health problems would have a significant impact in challenging stigma and discrimination.

"When the former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik publicly disclosed his experience of depression, it did not affect his popularity.

"He went on to be re-elected and proved that people who have experienced mental health problems can recover and manage a challenging job."

'Antiquated rules'

Paul Farmer, chief executive of the charity Mind, said: "At a time when the government is appealing to employers to be more understanding about mental health issues as part of its aim to get people off benefits and back into workplace, it seems they should be looking to take action closer to home.

"Repealing antiquated rules that ban MPs from returning to work after recovering from a mental health problem would send out a clear message to all employers that discrimination should not be tolerated."

The charity Rethink's chief executive, Paul Jenkins, said: "These findings are an affront to democracy. MPs and peers need to be free to bring their personal experiences to their vital democratic role.

"Instead they are being gagged by the prejudice, ignorance and fear surrounding mental illness.

"We look forward to the day when MPs from all political parties with experience of mental illness are able participate fully in our democracy."