The Government has ring-fenced £7.2 million to help people recovering from mental health and substance misuse problems back into work.

As part of the programme, mentoring, CV advice, interview training, and on-job support will be offered to 6,000 people over the age of 25.

The new scheme could be extended to help 1,500 younger adults handle education, training, or work, a report says.

Public Health Minister Rebecca Evans said work can help people overcome mental health issues, although “the issues themselves are often a barrier to employment”.

The Government will encourage employers to take on people suffering from mental health problems, the report said, with up to three months transitional support for those workers.

Around one in four people are affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their life, placing the condition as one of the most prominent problems in the UK.