A department of work and pensions review in September 2006
found that being in work is good for mental health and that
those who had mental health problems and were unemployed
had higher suicide rates. It is a sad reality today that
many people with mental health problems still struggle to
get a job despite the fact that in general they are more
likely to want one. They represent the largest group of
unemployed people and even if they do manage to find a job,
they will often have difficulty in keeping it. Why is this?
People with mental health problems are more likely to worry
if they have to take time off work for any reason or if
they find it hard to cope with some of the tasks involved
in carrying out their work on a daily basis. Their plight
can me made even worse by employer's who don't understand
mental health issues or by work colleagues who may feel
resentful if they perceive someone as being treated more
favourably because they receive extra help and support as a
result of mental health problems. All this is still
happening daily despite government initiatives and massive
campaigns to educate the people about mental health.
The fact remains, any single one of us can be affected by a
mental health problem at any time. Mental health problems
don't discriminate. Regardless of your background, gender
or social status, there is a good chance that either you or
someone close to you will be affected by mental health
issues at some point. Indeed, it is estimated that at any
one time a fifth of the population is suffering from some
kind of mental illness.
Should you tell your employers?
If you are trying to find work and you have a mental health
problem you might understandably be reluctant to tell your
potential employer about it in case it jeopardises your
chances of getting the job.
Similarly if you are already in work, it may be that you
would prefer not to talk about your mental health problems
with your employer and will try to just get on with the job
and struggle through alone.
Although there are still problems with discrimination in
the work place and stigma surrounding mental health issues,
people with mental health problems have rights like
everyone else and employers have a duty of responsibility
to make sure that people with mental health problems are
not discriminated against and are given what they need to
keep and sustain their job.
Deciding whether or not to be open with your employer about
your mental health is very much an individual choice and
will ultimately depend on several factors including your
relationship with your employer, how understanding they are
likely to be and whether or not they will perceive your
mental health as something that will influence your ability
to carry out your job.
There may be occasions when you have to take time off work.
If this is likely to happen on a regular basis or for any
length of time then it is probably better to keep your
employer fully informed about your situation. If you have
been off work for a while then you could possibly find it
difficult to return to work even though you feel you are
ready to do so. If this situation arises then it might be
worth considering asking your employer if you can cut back
on the number of hours you work temporarily or if you can
have flexible working hours so that the prospect of going
back to work full time isn't so daunting.
So what are your rights?
If your employer doesn't ask you specifically about mental
health problems when you apply for a job then you don't
have to tell them, however, if you are asked and you choose
not to disclose the information then you can be dismissed
for it later on should your employer ever find out.
However, your employer is also obliged to abide by the law,
which means that you have the same rights as anyone else
who has a disability. It is unlawful for any employer to
discriminate against someone either in work or applying for
work purely because they have a mental health problem.
Employers have a duty of responsibility to make reasonable
adjustments according to your needs. Obviously this is
widely open to interpretation so if in any doubt, seek
professional advice.
It's only natural that an employer is concerned about your
ability to carry out your work effectively as their
business depends on it so being open with your employer or
a potential employer about what you are capable of and what
you can realistically do from the very beginning may
prevent any misunderstandings or disputes later on and can
contribute to a positive working experience for everyone.
----------------------------------------------------
Depression and anxiety are serious conditions that can
strike anyone at anytime. For more information about
depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk
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