What would you do?

I've done two of the scenarios and have noticed that the third "halfway" option was self-centred, or "how will it make me look if they screw up" answers.

I would certainly hire the guy who has been off work due to depression, if I felt he could do the job... and offer whatever help he would need if he couldn't.

hi paul i'll have a cuppa with you and anyone else who wants to join us i suffer depression and psychosis and am proud that i am alternatively wired (not ill) makes life more of a challenge but can lead to great enrichment and i believe we are morally kinder people than non sufferers and have more empathy and understanding of others
kind regards

I didn't realise that Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax, Alister Campbell and Tony Blair had depression till I saw Stephen Fry's Documentary how he brought 20 items of the same thing as a collection. I feel sorry for them.

My mum has a mentil health depression and lives in care when getting better Care Staff at that home keep giving more medication and they try to make it worse and keep her against her own will for it.

My mum has a personality disorder that's switching in and out of being French, Chinese and
Royal Family member one minute and the next.

Then she has this mentil pain that takes over her and she can only see her family for one hour cause of it.

It's like it's a crime to care staff and it's not.

I'm clear from that always am and they and others in general public clap us for getting our identity right and for eating all our meals and for not bringing it back up in 20 seconds that's discrimination. Staff and the general public in my aarea believe it to be a crime if you do.

When you have a TRACHEOTOMY which is a surgical operation perfomed on the neck of the paitent to allow him or her to breathe from dying they say you talk husky cause of drugs, too much smoking and medication when it's not. It's cause of a TRACHEOTOMY that makes you speak husky. It's like when your voice cracks as a teenager it happens when you are about to become a adult it sounds like that though constantly.

They say things like that to you about being on something you need spiritual healing another operation when they don't understand nor they don't realise the consequences of having another operation.

When they get like that with you it makes you stop socialising and having a normal life them that do that to us it ends up destroying us without them realising it. If you like working things and life a normal life they try to change it into a retard life and care home life them that do that to us is the wrong way to go about it.

Those with a TRACHEOTOMY have to speak loudly sometimes to be heard cause if you don't you can't be heard if spoken to quietly to those without a TRACHEOTOMY.

Yes, a TRACHEOTOMY too can make you limited too to what you can do in life from Jobs, swimming and communicating with people cause some don't understand.

I'd got treated like a adult when I use to be a kid and teenager in the 1990's also when I use to be a kid in the 1980's. Now as adult in my 30's during 2008 and 2009 I once got treated like a old person in the early 21st century during my 20's.

The discrimination alot of it comes from Staff in care, Day Centres and at Special Needs Schools.

You can find out what a TRACHEOTOMY is Online by typing in this keyword: TRACHEOTOMY or go to the Library.

Staff in care Day Centres and at
Special Needs Schools have got to stop doing that to us.

I'm friendly down to earth and open minded and I'll answer anything to anyone's reply whether you have a mentil illness depression or not whether I've got a TRACHEOTOMY and ASTHMA I still get on with anyone.

Just cause I speak like that and have ASTHMA doesn't make me deluded nor paranoid nor insane nor a phsychopath as got called one of them for it.

Am proud of who I am cause at least I don't try to destroy people's life's by discrimination nor by throwing people out of life and I don't start Wars at differences in problems and race unlike they do when they've got problems too yet their not in care. That's their attitude and behaviour.

My name is Mr Michael Clifton and I'll answer any reply day or night till 2:30am.

What would people do?

You know the diference between religion and psychosis dont you?

If God talks to you then you get referred to a psychiatrist, and a small bunch of religious fanatics hail you as a prophet and set up a cult in your name.

If Napolean talks to you, you still get referred to a psychiatrist, but the entire French nation conpletely ignores you.

Go figure.

After years of suffering from, what were relatively minor anxiety episodes in my life and struggling through them I finally had a major anxiety attack last year which forced me to take some time off. My pride at having a near perfect absence record over the previous 10 years encouraged me that this would work for me if I ever needed time off to recover fom something like this. Unfortunately, being in a new job and under probation, I was dismissed, less than five days after taking time off. This has shattered my faith in equality practice at work, an area I had particularly contributed to in the context of my own role. On reflection, if I had lied about my illness eg cold, flu, family illness I think I would still be in that job. It's been a heartbreaking experience as it was my dream job. I'm temping right now and going for inteviews but really not sure how best to present what happened.

This is a great campaign by the way and I hope it makes people thhnk about their attitudes to mental health.

I dont know if anyone is aware, but if you go to your GP he may be able to refer you to a mental health occupational therapist. We are HPC registered and work in hospitals as well as in the community. Basically we are there to help you with coping strategies, anxiety management, stress management and getting back to work. Unfortunately not many people are aware of what occupational therapy is, in a nutshell, everything you do in your everyday life is an occupation, self care, being a parent, being a worker, being you (the list is endless) - and with any disablility it can have an impact on how you function in these areas - we help you to live your life to the full again. For more information please look at www.cot.org.uk
Good luck everyone!

I am well and truly frustrated at the moment! My college place was threatened because of my mental health issues, and even after providing a doctor's note to address these- I was still asked to leave! A whole year of my life wasted, when I know for a fact I want to do A-levels. It's ridiculous, this college is supposedly one of the top ten in the country and prides itself on it's Catholicism. Yeah, right! What's Catholic about kicking someone out because you can't be mithered with the extra effort? In writing, the woman who dismissed me wrote, and I quote 'we want to offer you the opportunity to learn from the mistakes you have made' and 'come back ready to start your courses afresh having overcome your particular difficulties'. Yeah, no thanks to you! Throwing me out of college is reaaally going to help me 'overcome my difficulties', I appreciate your help!

I am honestly disgusted at the way this college has approached my case. But what can I do about it? The more days go on, the less chance I have of getting back in, even if I made a big deal about it. And there goes a year of my life.. wasted. They know that no one will listen to one voice and even if I flew over in a helicopter, held everyone hostage and wrote a list of demands, it'd be too late to restart. Annoyed much? I think so!

Hi I have suffered with anxiety, depression and manic phases for 6 years now - but probably most of my life. One of the hardest things I find to cope with is other people's opinions about me and my illness. When I have suffered with a physical illness I have never experienced other people casting their opinions and discriminatory beliefs about at me. Sadly these often come from close friends and family and are also from people who have 'suffered from stress - but I got over it without all this fuss!' It's a bit like the difference between a cold and flu but much worse.
Unfortunately because I have had low self esteem all my life I have learned coping strategies and am therefore always the life and soul of the party. Nobody sees me before the party polishing off a bottle of wine to steady my nerves or the next day crying and hating myself as I imagine that my friends all hate me. I have been told by a close friend that I can't be that bad because I go to festivals - the fact that I can melt into the crowd in anonymity and be 'myself' does not occur to people!.
I volunteer at my children's school and am Chair of Governors but if I was sectioned - or likely to be (how the hell would I know) - I would be unable to hold this position. The staff at the school all know about my illness as it is one of my safe places. When I'm struggling I just tell them that I am feeling a bit mad at the moment - they are very supportive but I know they find it difficult to discuss. I just want people to be able to understand these often long term crippling illnesses and learn that just because they can't see them that they are none the less real. Also I really need people to stop taking advantage of me during my manic phases when I could conquer the world!!!
Love to all of you out there. Sarah

New to the site and was startled to see one of the scenarios about an Andy who had to take months off work! I've had to do that twice, once in 2000/01 for six months, and again in 2006/07 for five months - more recently I was off for three weeks in Nov/Dec. I realise that I've been lucky with the people I work with and my line managers, and the Ot at work has also been great - but, I have been thinking about this as my mind turns to moving elsewhere and developing my career further - when involved in recruitment I sift through forms and I cannot recall seeing one mention of mental health problems - must have done hundreds of forms by now so the odds are there were a fair few applicants who didn't mention it - should they, should I when the time comes? The obvious answer to me is "why not?", but reading other peoples' tales shows just how lucky I've been, not just with work but friends and family as well.

I'm 45, married with 2 kids and have suffered from major episodes of anxiety, depression and panic since I was about 17 and have experienced discrimination at work over the years. My first major episode of mental illness occurred when I was 20 and resulted in me having about 3 or 4 weeks away from the BBC where I was working. Any support soon ran out. 2 years later I left (my own decision) because they made it quite clear that they I was becoming a liability and didn't really know what to do with me.

I have worked for the last 25 years with a well known supermarket chain and have had several episodes where I have had to take 4 weeks off at a time. Here I have suffered discrimination too.

For me medication has been the answer, I've been on Seroxtat for the last 13 years and it has enabled me to live my life normally, have 2 kids and avoid those horrendous lows.

When I was pregnant both times I was under the care of a superb obstetric psychiatrist who monitored me closely and gave me lots of support.

I've never been offered any type of counselling though and although the tablets do a good job I felt about 18 months ago that I would benefit from some therapy. My gp was very disappointed to tell me there was no provision for it. Before Xmas 08 I decided to pay for 10 sessions with a therapist and it has made a difference. I'm now able to challenge more of my negative thought patterns and understand a bit more as to why I was thinking this way.

This campaign is so IMPORTANT. The discrimination employers and other people take is totally unacceptable. Families have a lot to answer for too!!

I have suffered with anxiety and depression since my son was born nine years ago. This illness kept me housebound for two years and saw me change overnight from a successful career person to what I perceived to be a failure. I now work with children on life support systems (ventilators) in their own homes, supporting their families to try and maintain a 'normal' life, my anxiety does not effect me there (dont know why but thankful for it).

Sound like I 'cracked it' doesnt it ?? Well I live with it, if thats the same thing, I manage myself. I still leave rooms during meetings to 'go to the loo', when in fact I cant breathe and fear Im dying. My symptoms change to keep me on my toes, one day I cant breathe, the next its a heart attack/pulmonary embollisms, whatever!! I can laugh at myself when im calm. I do however class myself as fortunate, I manage my anxiety generally and have only has two excabations since the first episode.

Im here !! I am not embarrassed, and I do not ask anyone for sympathy (although its always welcome). Some days are harder than others, but I survive. So if you ever fancy a chat while Im pacing round the house/garden at 2am because i'm dying (either heart attack or lack of breathe you understand !!). Please feel free to reply.

Hi all I just saw the first of the adverts and wanted to say its about time! I have been mentally ill for most of my life and have been in and out of hospital and on and off medication for most of that time and it always amazes me how hard it is for my voice to be heard when it comes to opinions and how little people care.
I have been off sick for 11 years now and I am still such a long way off, but I am so happy this campaign has been started, all I have ever wanted is to feel ABLE not disABlEd, I hate being at home all day focussing on what I cant do and its only through campaigns like this that any of us will ever have our stories told in an honest unprejudiced way. So many people think they know the facts and wont listen when told by someone with mental health issues that they are wrong, but when a national campaign says, these are the facts people take notice, what a wonderful thing to happen!
And Paul my name is Kate and I have depression anxiexty and a personality disorder and I would love a cup of tea. x

I liked the Scenarios, I think that even if people picked what looked like the right answer rather than their gut reaction they will have a good hard think about their misconceptions.

Yes I am another person living with depression and anxiety. I have been off work since 2007, had therapy sessions and am now on my third trial of an anti depressant. This is the third time it's hit me in adult life and this time has been the hardest.

In all my meetings with HR I have been amazed at their lack of knowledge of depression. So good luck with this campaign. It's well overdue. Please dont give up. Too many companies need to learn about this. Until they do, the government figures for sick days will continue to rise!

To follow on from Paul Davidson on this forum, most people I have met through life who also cope with varying levels of depression, have been the kindest, warmest people of all. And have often made the larget impression on me. They are quite often the hardest working and most sensitive to others...the kind of people needed in the workplace.

My only worries are that only people suffering will hear your message. You need to reach the people who's lives it hasn't touched yet, too.

All the best

Hi everyone,
I have suffered with anxiety and depression for many years and only now with the support of a psychiatrist and my GP, do I feel like I have some sort of control over it. I have friends who are supportive and other people think "get over it". To these people I now think positively instead of negatively. Its better to think "at least you wont suffer", instead of trying to get them to understand. Let them be ignorant as some people will never change. I hope this campaign can change a few peoples thoughts though. If anyone needs further support may I recommend the following website: livinglifetothefull.com
It has been developed by some of the best specialists in psychiatry, and has modules that can help you. There is also a forum that has many good people to help each other out and support each other.
Best wishes to all x

I have suffered with anxiety and depression since i was 19 years of age, i don't know how many of you have sleepness nights or panic attacks (whioh ironically give me a fear of dying) and cause me more anxiety. I find that i am very up and down and never inbetween. Yet somehow i still manage to run a home with three children one of whom has special needs. I have lost a lot of friends through my illness and so far the doctors have described it as stress, anxiety disorder and depression. Can you ever overcome it? i am 39 now and 20 years i still have the same going on. My family are great but they don't really understand what causes me to be miserable and down, panicky and crying and then the next minute on an ultimate high.

I'm in this situation at the moment. I've been off work for nearly 2 months with depression and acute anxiety, after 8 years of good health loyal service and many friendships with colleagues. However, I know I'm definitely not ready to go back but the reality of having this on my CV and already experiencing prejudice at work, is starting to hit home. No colleagues or management have called or asked after my well being at all and I know on my return I will subjected to extra 'monitoring' and checks on my performance because of the ignorance of the illness.

I really feel that I HAVE to go back to work to mitigate the impact that this illness will have on my CV and career but deep down I know for certain that it will inhibit, at best, my recovery - if not make my illness much worse. This is the gamble I need to take but I feel in no state of mind to make this, ultimately life changing decision.

Andy's scenario really hit home as i have been and am in the same situation. No-one wants to give you work if you have mental health issues. I had to have several months off in early 2007 and again in the summer of 2008 and so now i am stuck. No-one wants to give you a chance because they are too concerned with how much sick pay they would have to give you if you were to fall ill again, its stupid!!!

The stigma attached to mental health really upsets me as it is incredably unfair to those already suffering.

I really hope this takes off and will start some changes happening soon...

Reading the scenarios you present brought back many memories. I have heard many of these myths spouted as fact. It must be very nearly crippling to be on the receiving end of this kind of discrimination. What makes me the most upset is that this attitude prevents others from seeking help for their mental health problems.

Quoted from the Globe and Mail (Calgary, Canada)
http://ago.mobile.globeandmail.com/generated/archive/RTGAM/html/20080605...
"...Mr. Lall's family said he had told them he was having a "mental breakdown," and according to an e-mail written by his wife he had been stressed out and unable to sleep for a long period of time - all classic signs of severe untreated mental illness and the psychosis that can grip those with depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

There are those who do not want to say Mr. Lall was mentally ill for fear of besmirching his memory. Apparently, there is one thing more shameful than being a mass murderer, and that is being crazy."

This, to me shows just how deep the stigma reaches. After killing nearly everyone in his home, some folks could be worried that he would look 'crazy'.

From the same article...
"Mr. Lall stabbed to death his wife, Alison, two of their children, five-year-old Kristen and three-year-old Rochelle, and tenant Amber Bowerman. (He spared one-year-old Anna.)

He did so because he was sick and untreated. But Mr. Lall did not act alone.

We are all complicit in those murders. Complicit because we turn away rather than reach out to those suffering from mental illness. Complicit in allowing so many barriers to care to exist. Complicit because we pretend this could never happen to us.

Complicit because we refuse to say aloud that mental illness kills.

Complicit in our silence."

Reading this underlined for me how important it is to be accepting. I still occasionally find this stigma or prejudice in my mind. This article, along with some of the wonderful people I know, helps me to recognize such nonsense, and perhaps more importantly, helps me to recognize the importance of ridding myself of this stigma.

Next, the rest of the world!
-Darren

The scenarios are quite thought provoking and I was intrigued by the percentages each of the responses got.

I could relate to Andy's scenario as I've had depression in the past and had to take time off school. Though despite this, I had chosen "Invite him for an interview but find out as much as possible about his mental illness...". I was flittering between that or the 3rd option, but chose the 1st as it felt "right".

Can't explain it really, it just felt like the kinda thing an average employee would ask. Which is quite bad on reflection. Mental illness strikes at any time in one's life, and no-one can really say if and when they may become ill again. Plus, mental illness should never define a person. It shouldn't be a label for others to point, stare and judge someone based on it. And as a student nurse studying mental health nursing, I'm already learning from this campaign. :)

I have not checked the senarios yet. but if some one said they had a Mental Health Problem, I would warmly say Hi my name is paul its nice to meet you and would try to interact with the person and without asking personal questions try to get to know them a bit.

Having Mental Health problems myelf I am very sensitive towards other peoples feelings, and would be very careful they did not compromise themselves by revealing any thing potentially very embarrasing. I have put myself in this situation many times when very unwell, revealing things best not said to total strangers, as it can be harmful in some ways if you reveal to much as discrimination can be very brutal sometimes

When I revealed my Health problems, to service users, I thanked them by writing poetry.

No one frowned upon my rantings
No one stared at eyes so red.
No one looked the other way.

and why should they reject a fellow human being just for having eyes so red. lucky for me, they made a cup of tea just for me.

Hi my name is paul, I have an illness of the mind, its called anxiety and depression but if you got to know me,both of our lives would be enhanced. Fancy a cuppa?.

Paul Davidson