Employees suffering from mental health problems will be given support to help them stay in work, the government has said.

The BBC reports pilot schemes run in association with mental health charity Mind to help people with fluctuating mental health conditions retain their jobs achieved a 90 percent success rate.

It is expected the scheme will be rolled out nationally.

Jim Knight, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, told the BBC: "I know disabled people dearly want to stay in work and their employers want to do everything they can to keep good staff.

"Our plans to offer the right help early on can end the downward spiral of people falling out of work into sick leave, and onto benefits.

"We are all agreed that helping people stay in work is good news for them, their bosses and for the taxpayer."

The government has also announced its first ever National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment, due this autumn.

It will include expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals in improving well-being in the workplace.