Job Discussion Forums

[kait]

I have grappled with a few bouts of depression over the years, and have taken prescription medications to help me through those times. At no point has depression altered my job performance in any way. I can't help but notice that many potential employers ask about mental illnesses specifically. Should I lie?

[johnslat]

Dear kait,
In a word - yup. After all, just because you've had it in the past doesn't mean you'll have to go through it again. Besides, if you volunteer the infomation and don't get the job, heck, you'll probably get depressed.
Regards,
John

[Will.]

This could be hint that the job is one that has produced this effect in previous employees.

[Bindair Dundat]

[gugelhupf]

Like others I wouldn't exactly consider a few bouts of depression treated successfully in the past as an outpatient as "mental illness" of the sort to bother a prospective employer with.

My guess is that employers tend to ask about it as "mental illness" is usually one of the exclusions in medical insurance policies that may come with the job.

Ironically, the most insane people I have ever worked with wouldn't even rate the diagnosis of "mentally ill" as their misbehaviour wouldn't fit within any diagnostic categories - and I'm sure we have all encountered such people in this line of work!

[basiltherat]

on this subject but just veering away slightly, id be interested in hearing a few accounts from those of us who have indeed gone through a bout of depression or a period of severe panic attacks. i was diagniosed with something along these lines and i can swear that it was one of the most terrifying periods of my life (im 51, btw). i never imagined it could be as bad as it was. fortunately i was on medication for a very brief time but both starting and stopping the medication was pretty awful itself ; severe vomitting and stupidly, i decided to come off it without consulting the doc. i just stopped-full stop which is not wat ur supposed to do. the resulting headaches were absolutely excrutiating.
the cause, i was told by the doc, was most likely fear and reluctance/apprehension in adapting back to my home environment. he might have been right since i feel fine in the uk now after having spent half my life (at that time) - from age 22 to 46 - in asia.
any other experiences from others ??
basil

[Alitas]

Hmm, I edited this because my comment about going nuts was in poor taste. Sorry. I was referring to myself, of course.

[mjed9]

I would lie to the employer. In fact I do. I was off work for about 9 months suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (7 years ago now). Amazingly one in 6 people suffer from this.

I suggest lying because the average Joe Bloggs knows nothing of mental disorders. There is unfortunately still a stigma attached to it. For something as common as panic attacks or depression its the best course of action.

[dmb]

I get severe panic attacks when I run out of cigarettes- really I do. I get dizzy and start sweating profusely

[ls650]

I think that this question is similar to being asked if you've ever used recreational drugs. Being honest can only cost you the job, so if it didn't impact your job performance, I'd be selective with the truth...

[frijolita]

While I was in my senior year of college I started having panic attacks. Yes they are very scary. It is very situational as to what can trigger them. Since then with the help of medication and a wonderful counselor I have learned to recognize what triggers them for me. Knock on wood things have been wonderful since.

As for depression, I have had numerous friends who have had depression at one point or another. Some went on medication and others did not. I agree with others I don't think it is something that you need to disclose. There is still a lot of negative stigma around it. Fact is may people can have depression and not even know it. As long it doesn't effect your ability to teach there is no need to say anything about it. That is personal and has nothing to do with work.

Question for anyone working in Europe. Can you get a perscription from a regular doctor for anxiety and/or depression? Just wondering.

[laodeng]

I speak not as a sufferer but rather as a former psychotherapist before kicking it all over and coming to China.

This place breeds anxiety and depression. How do you differentiate between anxiety and depression? Not always easily. And the treatments are different, so, really,you need professional help to do a diagnostic workup.

You can get antidepressants here fairly easily. But if you're looking for anti-anxiety meds--benzodiazepines in particular--you're going to have to jump through hoops to get them. And you're going to have a difficult time, even in a city as large as Shanghai, to find anyone to diagnose you using western criteria.

PlanA would involve going back to the West for a diagnosis, and, hopefully, meds, then returning.

If you're in China and this is not feasible, then Plan B would be to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This would mean staying away from the booze and cigarettes, getting lots of exercise, and cultivating friends who won't infect you with their own pathology.

Oh, about 'fessing up to your employer: never, never, never.

[zaneth]

The stigma is so strong, and can so often lead to irrational behavior, even on the part of people who should know better (like doctors). I've seen doctors ignore obvious physical symptoms and instruct others to as well because they saw written in a chart some phychiatric history. Don't get it written down in any more places than it needs to be. It's too convenient of an excuse for other people to act irrationally and jump to conclusions.

Last time I checked, medical records were private. So the information about them should be as well.

[Boy Wonder]

As a severe sufferer of mental disorder i really wouldn't worry about coming clean with potential employers about the true nature of any illness!!
I have always declared the full rafts of my mental disorders and it's never proved an obstacle to promotion anywhere i have ever worked!!
In fact in some places it's given me a leg up the promotional ladder!!!

It is as good as accepted in this day and age of equality for all...and why not....a good bout of madness goes down well in the staffroom and is a good morale booster providing entertainment..not to mention hours of limitless gossip!!!
I would much rather work with odd/weird/completely barking mad people than those who are infuriatingly normal and conformist....

Actually i recently left a summer school in the uk after a couple of days because everybody was so bloody dull and normal.
Couldn't get a decent bizarre and totally off the wall conversation out of any of them.......
My aim is to work in the maddest place possible as my next port of call....does anyone out there have
A) any suggestions
B) any vacancies
C) any Leo Sayer stickers to wear on my wellington boots...

[laodeng]

(a) China. Anywhere in China.

(b) There are always vacancies.

(c) Eh?

NB: Your most strident pathology will never be noticed.