THE number of people in Winchester receiving benefit support for anxiety and depression has more than doubled since before the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 387 people in Winchester received a PIP for anxiety and depression as of April, up from 323 the year before, and more than double the 153 people receiving support in April 2019, before the pandemic.

In the run-up to the general election, Sir Keir Starmer promised to overhaul the government's approach to mental health, which he claimed was defunct under the Conservatives.

At the time, the soon-to-be PM claimed a Labour government would aim to recruit 8,500 additional mental health staff in its first term of service, deliver an extra million NHS appointments a year and reduce waiting times for patients.

READ MORE: Depression and anxiety sufferers ‘to lose sickness benefits in welfare reforms’

PM Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA)

While the government has been busy since it came into power on July 5, it has not yet made any significant announcements on how it plans to translate its health care pledges into reality.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 387 people in Winchester received a PIP for anxiety and depression as of April.

This was up from 323 the year before, and was more than double the 153 people receiving support in April 2019, before the pandemic.

Across England and Wales, 351,213 people received benefit support for mental health issues in April.

This figure has more than doubled since 2019, with Mr Stride suggesting to The Times people with "milder mental health conditions" would no longer receive financial support.

He said: "There are those that have perhaps milder mental health conditions, or where perhaps there has been too great a move towards labelling certain behaviours as having certain (medical) conditions attached to them, where actually work is the answer or part of the answer.

"What we’ve got to avoid is being in a situation where we too readily say 'Well, actually, we need you to be on benefits'."

Nationally, across all disabilities and medical reasons, 3.4 million people received a PIP in April – up from 1.9 million in 2019.

Meanwhile, the number of people receiving disability benefits in Winchester has doubled over the last four years.

SEE ALSO: Children ‘being failed in dual crises of poverty and mental health’

Rishi Sunak, speaking when he was prime minister, said: "Reforming welfare is a moral mission. Work is a source of dignity, purpose and hope and I want everyone to be able to overcome whatever barriers they might face to living independent, fulfilling lives.

"That’s why we have announced a significant increase in mental health provision, as well as changes to ensure those who can work, do work."

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the suggestion the Tories' proposal would reduce spending by £12 billion relative to the Budget forecast "looks difficult in the extreme".

Tom Waters, IFS associate director, said "history suggests that reductions in spending are often much harder to realise than is claimed" regarding cutting mental health benefits.

A Labour spokesperson said: "This is the latest desperate announcement from Rishi Sunak, who has once again plucked numbers out of thin air in an attempt to disguise the fact that he has caused a spiralling benefits bill.

"These reheated pledges, old policies and vague promises will not get Britain healthy or benefits under control, and do nothing to solve the fact that £10 billion of taxpayers’ money was lost to benefit fraud just last year."