Access to work that pays a living wage is essential for people with mental health problems , King's Fund community care director Janice Robinson told a conference attended by education and employment minister Margaret Hodge last week. 'What people with mental illnesses need most are the things that the majority of people take for granted: a home, a job and a social network, ' she said. 'For many, a lack of these basic opportunities exacerbates their illnesses by creating insecurity, isolation and poverty.' The conference examined the impact of government policies on people with mental illnesses and aimed to find practical ways of supporting people in work and training.