I am a person living with anxiety/panic disorders, along with reoccurring depressive disorder for 5 years. Life has been extremely difficult for me. I have always been in employment since the age of 16 up until my mid 40s, but unfortunately, due to the severity of my disorders, I am no longer in employment (much to my frustrations, as I want to work). Despite numerous Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) sessions and medications, nothing has helped with my mental health struggles to date.

On April 19th, 2024 Rishi Sunak made a statement that seems to suggest people like me – those suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression – are disingenuous. This is not only offensive but also discriminatory, I demand that he needs to apologize for his insensitivity and displaced insinuations, as people living with mental health illnesses do not ask for these difficulties. If Mr Sunak came in to contact with people who have mental health illnesses he would see their difficulties first hand, and maybe then would he see that people are not being disingenuous and want to work.

Mr Sunak also stated that he wants to remove PIP benefit payments from people just like me, and provide support and treatment instead, however the support and treatment that I have had to date, has not reduced the severity of my disorders. What with Mr Sunak do in my case? Ostracize me from society? 

Mental health conditions affect one in four people worldwide according to World Health Organization (WHO). These are not conditions that individuals choose or can simply 'snap out' of. They require understanding, support and appropriate treatment, not the threat of their PIP payments being withdrawn, this is more likely to increase further distress to people along with increased suicidal rates. 

We demand that Mr Sunak and the Conservative Party stop their discrimination against individuals who suffer from mental health conditions. We insist they treat all citizens fairly regardless of their mental health status and promote policies that support rather than stigmatize and demonize us.

You can have a say in the way PIP will be changed, by reading and completing the governments green paper PIP consultation, the information can be found below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper

Please sign this petition and complete the consultation, if you believe in equal rights for all citizens regardless of their mental health condition. Stop the government from penalising us, unite and act now!