life, just starting out on work and family. instead parked on welfare. now, we should see it as a sign of progress of course that people can talk openly about mental health conditions in a way that years ago would have been unthinkable. and i will never dismiss or down-play the illnesses people have. anyone who's suffered mental ill health or have family or friends who have knows these conditions are real and they matter. that just as it would be wrong to dismiss this growing trend, so it would be wrong to sit back and nearly accept it because it's too hard, too controversial or for fear of causing offense. doing so would let down many of the people our welfare system was designed to help. because if you believe as i do that work gives you the chance not just to earn but to contribute, to belong, to overcome feelings of loneliness