HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

To Disclose mental ilness to an employer or not?

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/5/2011 8:37 AM (GMT 0)
I was wondering what all your inputs are when that big question "do you take any medication" comes up.

I would say no (even though i do take meds) just because of the stigma involved, and because it's another reason to be turned down employment.
Posted 6/5/2011 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
it may be a duty of care to disclose, and it may be your requirement to do so. the medication bit seems suspect, i too would be wary. the mental illness component - i would only disclose if it may effect my work, man it sucks that there is still discrimination out there by employers, but there are some that do not, check the fine print out carefully. wishing you well. jamie.

keep strong :-) ps i have disclosed my mental illness but never had i to do with my medications.
Posted 6/5/2011 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am always honest on applications. They may not ask you that. I hope not anyway. Usually they just ask past work. It depends where you are.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/5/2011 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
The long-believed "stigma" attached to mental illness does not exist in all people and certainly not in people who are well-educated. It does linger, however, in the business world among a few employers whose primary concern is about the increased insurance rates the company might be obligated to pay for the treatment of employees who have mental illness. That's a tragedy, but one aspect of some people in the business world. It has very, very litttle to do with the person you are.

It's a matter of what you feel you can be comfortable with. It may also depend on which state you live in. In some states you are not required to identify mental conditions. If you feel that it's none of their business, and you are fully able to function normally on medications, I see no reason for you to have to plunge into a business that is reluctant to employ based on past mental issues. I might go so far as
to suggest that you speak to a lawyer before you complete an application for work in the state where you reside.


It's your call.

It's Genetic
Posted 6/5/2011 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
At work all our employees are asked if they take medicine, do they carry it on them, and what is the medicine for.

I answer, yes I am on medication, I do not bring it to work, and I wish to have the reason I take the medicine as a personal matter.

I have answered this way for the last 10yrs.

My reasons for never disclosing the real reason is - once people know, they can use it against you, what you think and feel can be discredited as 'she only reacted that way because she has depression', rather than hearing me out and coming to the conclusion that I may just have a valid thought.


My work environment though it is in a 'caring profession', the staff would absolutely not take me serous if they knew the truth.

That's just my opinion though, but being here this long is only possible by keeping my personal life out of work completely
Posted 6/5/2011 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Just my opinion. I think that your personal life should be seperated from work life. I think we should be able to keep these things to ourselves. But that isn't always the way that it goes. I think you got some very good advice from IG and Awty. I hope that it helps you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/6/2011 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
my diabetes would be different, need to carry my insulin, oral meds my reader, etc. jamie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply