Fewer than one in 20 adults in contact with mental health services in south Worcestershire in March were known to be in work, figures reveal.

The Mental Health Foundation charity says it fears the effect rising unemployment in the coronavirus crisis could have on the nation’s mental health – particularly the impact of the end of the furlough scheme in October .

The latest NHS figures show just 100 (4%) of the 2,250 adults in contact with mental health services in the NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group area at the end of March were known to be in paid employment.

Employment details for 1,525 patients were unknown, while the remainder were either unemployed or were economically inactive, a category which includes students, retirees and the long-term sick or disabled.

Across England, just 7% of the 660,041 patients in contact with services were known to be in work.