Faking depression

leiela

In the past i've been sectioned under the mental health act due to depression and i spent 8 months in a mental institution. It is a dreadful illness i wouldn't wish on anyone.

would it effect his future prospects? i don't know perhaps for some career's however since my recovery i personally have never had a problem getting or keeping a job and im now reasonably successful. It does get awkward in interviews occasionally having to explain "away" chunks of my life but i've never felt it held me back.

As for the drugs side of things, if he was faking he wouldn't actually HAVE to take the drugs, for years of my depression i point blank refused to take the prescribed medication for the reasons people have mentioned those drug's are horrid. I did try various ones but i always quit them after a few weeks unable to deal with the side affects and unless your sectioned a docter really can't make you take them.

Could a person fake depression yes quiet easily, there is no real way of proving if a person has depression. I acted normally while depressed, went to work, school no-one knew, there where no sign's till the day i wound up in A&E having downed 200 tablets, a bottle of vodka and slit my wrists just for good measure, my family and friends shocked and unable to comprehend the situation because to them i was a outwardly happy go lucky social person.

Should a person fake depression .. NO!!! i can't even begin to discribe how morally wrong this is, taking money off the goverment when you are fit to work, having doctors time, medication and therepy spent on you when there is NOTHING work with you is just wrong. I remember a converstation with a member of the my local mental heath team and learning it cost £16,000 per WEEK to keep a person in therapy, which is staggering especially if the person doens't need it... its shocking and its taking much needed money away from people who really need the help.

tigerlily

sigrid wrote: »

you had a point?

It seems my point went over your head, thankfully others grasped it. :rolleyes:
End of, night night!

aloiseb

I've met people like him....one had a work experience placement in a canteen, and left after day 1 (cutting sandwiches) saying she didn't want to waste her time doing this as she wanted to be a real chef!

What a sad case. Hope he changes his mind about this very bad plan.

hethmar

Leila - the point is that is so common, someone who is the life and soul of the party, always smiling and apparently happy can be desperately depressed. However, a faker wouldnt know or act like that as he wouldnt be aware of the true symptoms of depression as someone who had actually experienced it.

onlyforboards_2

hethmar wrote: »

Leila - the point is that is so common, someone who is the life and soul of the party, always smiling and apparently happy can be desperately depressed.

Yes and then people assume there is nothing wrong with them and people get all het up about them being scroungers when in fact they are desperately ill and getting better while not working.

hethmar

Yes, I have experienced this with a close friend, a very active and popular woman - we were all horrified when we learnt the truth.

Glamazon

GP's have to use depression screening tools these days whenever they suspect someone has depression - just one more Government target to meet. The answers someone gives will indicate the level of depression and someone who marks answers willy nilly would be caught out. If he answered everything thinking he would come across as beign really depressed he would probably be sectioned!!!

A good GP shouldn't be looking at anti-depressants straight away - getting to root of it, counselling, self help etc are all things that SHOULD happen first.

Faking an illness is wrong and he should be reported - my brother is 18 and can't get a job anywhere because of the current climate. He is always looking, is even doing some voluntary work to try and get experience and do some football coaching badges. There are other options for him if he can get the motivation to change.

onlyforboards_2

sigrid wrote: »

i dont think that is actually the point.... if you FAKE an illness to gain benefits you ARE a scrounger!

that does NOT mean all people with depression are scroungers!

I was referring to the reply in the thread where someone was posted about a person who appeared to be well but was off work with depression.

caela_2

DCFC79 wrote: »

A friend i know has a big idea to fake depression so he can get put onto anti depressants so then he can quit his job due to depression.

Have you wondered if your friend might actually be depressed, as sometimes people may not want to admit it, rather joke about it to get help they might actually need. If he does see a doctor, the doctor can do tests, such as a Beck's Depression Inventory, to judge whether or not your friend has depression and then prescribe treatment if required. It will not affect his chances of employment, unless he asks to be written off from work due to sickness in which case he might be required to explain this to future employers.
There is no harm in going to the doctor, if there is a serious problem there, the doctor will be able to detect it and it is better to be safe than sorry. If you cannot think of the reason why your friend would do such a thing, to 'fake' depression in order to leave his job and seek 'help', maybe it is his way of explaining his actions without admitting to having felt depressed. Of course, he could just be faking as you said. Otherwise, I am only suggesting that it can be very difficult for people to come out with mental health disorders and telling someone you are depressed can make them act differently towards you (or you might fear it would). So maybe your friend is joking about it, because he doesn't want you to know he is depressed, but he does want to do something about it without people knowing.
I am suggesting this as depression can go unnoticed, so even though you might think he is not depressed and neither does his family, that does not mean he does not have depression. People can be very good at hiding it, so bear this in mind and think again, is he depressed? Does he stay in a lot or avoid seeing his friends? Is he de-motivated? Look at the dsm IV criteria for depression and see if the symptoms sound familiar.
You say your friend wants to leave his job, has come up with some crazy idea he is fixated on and is 'lazy' and 'stubborn'. At such a young age, you would think he could put something else into motion rather than employ such a crazy idea, but not if he is depressed. Sounds like his laziness might be a lack of motivation, only he might joke that he 'can't be bothered' or 'is too lazy' to do something to hide it. If he is employing bizarre courses of action, maybe he does have mental health problems.
I would advise him as you see fit, but if your friend is talking about depression, see if he is depressed first and bear in mind, he may not want to tell you about it. In this case, a doctor might be able to talk to him better as an impartial individual where he can talk in confidence. If a doctor thinks he's lying, he will tell him to stop wasting his time. Most likely, if your friend is having difficulty making rational plans and acting in a way that is callous, he might well be suffering from mental health disorders or depression. Or he might be lying, just be sure either way!

b-b-b

the job is working for dominoes pizzas

Jesus, my condolences :eek: I think he should get checked out for depression for REAL! Working at Dominos, poor guy!