1 in 6 British workers are affected by conditions like anxiety and depression every year. It is a myth that people with mental health problems can’t work. With the right support people with mental health problems perform vital roles in workplaces across the country.
However, mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace remain an issue. The blogs below are written by people who have experience of mental illness in the workplace and show the different ways people can react.
By writing about their experiences they aim to raise awareness of the issue and challenge stereotypes around something that can affect all of us. Pledge to talk about your experiences of mental health >>
Read more about what support is available at work and information for managers and employers.
They were getting stronger and worse with each passing day and taking over in all parts of my life: driving my car, in my dreams, when day dreaming - even at times when I should have been happy like being with my family, I was even unable to focus on my hobbies.
I was living with negative thoughts clouding my judgments, which made it difficult to talk to others about my mental health. It wasn’t until I confronted my mental illness with my boss that I realised how important it is to talk about mental health.
It’s been many years since I was diagnosed with clinical depression and although I have the tools to deal with it I don’t think I will ever be completely free of what I call my shadow. However, it’s important to remember that you can live and cope with it with the support of your family and those around you. 
I graduated this summer and I recently started my first full time, 'real' job. Right from the start I made the decision to fill out the medical form truthfully – I disclosed that I had depression and that I was on medication for it. I'm usually always open about my depression, but I've been warned so many times not to disclose to an employer that I have a mental illness that it took a bit of thinking.
