Off work with depression

maysmummy

harrup wrote: »

I respectfully beg to differ. Clinical depression is a serious illness and the sufferer quite justifiably protected by appropriate law(s).

However....depression is NOT the same as being down in the dumps due to an unfullfilling, stressful and/or odious job. The vast majority of people feeling "depressed" by a situation, event, or occupation - including myself - are light years away from a person suffering from actual depression. Whose appearance is often unrelated to events.

Thus the average "depressed" person simply has a bouts of the blues. Easily ameliorated by a better job, a bit of retail therapy , a case of circumstances, etc, etc.

The pivotal point is: a truly depressed person couldn't apply for another job. They neither would have the motivation nor concentration to do so. Their illness intercepts both.

If a person is well enough, motivated enough to go to an interview and seek alternate employment = they are well enough to go to work. Regardless of how much they might hate it. And I fully appreciate that they might REALLY hate it for entirely valid reasons.

NB: I would like to make it clear that in no way do I pass judgment on the original poster. Do I find her actions morally reprehensible? Actually, I find the GP's willingness to sign her/him off as "depressed" a great deal more reprehensible. It makes a total mockery of the employment law designed to allow people suffering from real depression to obtain and maintain a job - and that IS morally reprehensible, actually.

One of the reasons why millions of UK jobs went to the Far East include
"Depression, Stress and Back Ache". Which seem to be curiously absent in these other countries. Ask ANY British employer what the 3 most common reasons for absenteism are and they will cite the above.

Sorry, but I don't agree. Depression is not like pregnancy ie you are either depressed or you are not. There are degrees of depression: mild, moderate and severe. Treatments are different for all degrees and only in severe depression would the poster not be able to function at all.

Good on you, OP, for trying to get out from a difficult situation. if you were really a skiver then you would be digging in for the long haul on sick.

sammyjo1979

maysmummy wrote: »

Sorry, but I don't agree. Depression is not like pregnancy ie you are either depressed or you are not. There are degrees of depression: mild, moderate and severe. Treatments are different for all degrees and only in severe depression would the poster not be able to function at all.

Good on you, OP, for trying to get out from a difficult situation. if you were really a skiver then you would be digging in for the long haul on sick.

There are different types of depression, I don't think anyone is disputing that. I think the thing is the word depression is used so freely. Mild depression is different from feeling low or stressed.

As for the skiver comment, that is questionable. I mean if someone is depressed are they really well enough after 3-6 weeks? There are genuine people on long haul sick not all are skivers using depression as an excuse, some truely are suffering with depression.

OP - are you sure going back into an environment, regardless of it being on different shifts is not going to make you even more poorly? Your mental health is worth far more than any job.

blue_mum

I've suffered from mild depression and my self help skill is to carry on working. Self help is the key for this type of depression and identifying the the source that tiggers the depression is a big step and knowing not to put your self in that situation again or dealing with it pro activly is the most important thing to do.

Everyone is different, if the for the OP the trigger for the depression is their present job, then they are doing the right self help thing for themselves which is looking for a new job.

Depression is so badly labeled that it can cause even more anxiety for the person suffering from it when trying to explain it to an employer.

Raksha

bendix wrote: »

If you're not stressed, you're not doing your job properly.

Whatever happened to people's basic coping skills? Why have we turned into a nation of whiners?

And if you are stressed/depressed you may not be able to do your job properly. When I'm depressed I make stupid mistakes and loose my concentration. If I make my boss aware of this he can help me check my work or give me extra time to complete, he can arrange for some of the pressure on me to be relieved and I can stay at work. These are my coping strategies.

Being depressed is not about whining, it's about feeling suicidal/worthless. It may even be a chicken and egg thing - which comes first, the depression or the stress? I know when I'm depressed and I look in the mirror, I don't see Raksha looking back at me, and others with depression have told me they feel the same. My GP has told me he can tell when I'm depressed as he can see the light in my eyes has gone, and even my boss is learning to tell when 'Raksha's fire has gone out'

heretolearn_2

I would tell them, if it's a job where they will take up references. Most companies make offers 'subject to satisfactory references'.

It's usual to ask about sick records - and the employer can tell them what you were sick with.

If I were given a reference stating recently off with depression, I'd withdraw the offer. And that wouldn't be discriminatory, DDA wouldn't apply after 2 weeks! Without any information on the degree/reasons, I couldn't take the risk of employing you.

On the other hand, if I were interviewing and thought you were far and above the best candidate, I'd understand about current circumstances making you feel low, and take a risk on you. We did recently employ someone who has a 3 year history of depression. It was the first thing he told us about when he entered the interview room, we discussed it in some detail along with what allowances/adjustments we might need to make, and decided it was something we could deal with as he really was an excellent candidate, and he's been a big asset to us since starting.

madhatter10

For people to say you are better off in work when you are depressed may be positive and the right thing to do - however, some employers have a negative view of the depressed and would rather employer someone who will not be ill. I sympathise with the depressed person and know they have limits too, which the employer may not wish to accommodate. So for anyone to think there is a simple solution, please think again. It's so easy to look at life through rose tinted glasses.

Chuzzle

Thanks for all your thoughts and opinions on this one. I have gone back to work now and had a chat to my current employer, I think I probably used depression as the wrong word - the doc signed me off with "low mood" - apologies for that. The mistakes I was worried about have now been spoken about and I have basically been told they weren't worth worrying about but that is me I worry loads about the sily little things. I didn't mention anything about this at the interview. I still don't enjoy my job and yes that is causing me a lot of stress, but I am dealing with it and taking one day at a time. I shall keep applying for jobs until the day that someone offers me one.

Thanks again - some of the opinions and advice did have me worrying even more - so much so I almost didn't go to the interview