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Depression/MH problems and employment. How do you do it?

Bluestreak: can you work for a mental health charity? Presumebly they have work practises geared towards those in your position? Somewhere like Mind or something?

Sorry if I am stating the obvious :)
 
It totally sucks as a situation, doesn't it? :( So unfair. I doubt many employers would refuse to give someone a job because they needed regular kidney dialysis or something, but with mental health issues it seems like you don't have a chance. It's just not right.

It would be nice if people could be like my ex's uni when he applied to study and put on his application that he had bipolar - they asked at interview if there was anything he needed on account of his illness if admitted, and he told them 'Understanding'. Understanding that there may well be periods when he was ill and so on, and they gave that to him.

But it is important to keep working - it seems to me that getting on the sick with mental health issues is getting dangerously close to the downward spiral. I guess, Bluey, you're luckier than many in having lots of mates around you, but it's important to keep structure in your day. I don't know whether mind might offer any advice on employment - I'd assume they do.

My ex once went to some agency through a charity, I think, which specialised in finding jobs for people with mental health problems, although he didn't have any luck with them. I can't remember who it was, but I'm sure Mind would be able to tell you.
 
RubyToogood said:
Any ideas for self employment?
Click to expand...

I'd love to be self-employed. I don't really know what I could do though. I'm not really good at anything and I don't have any real skills. Or any money to start up with. But any ideas gratefully received!
 
bluestreak said:
I don't really know what I could do though. I'm not really good at anything and I don't have any real skills.
Click to expand...
depression talking?
if you didn't have any real skills, then you wouldn't have been temping for so long (ie you wouldn't have been that employable).
dude, positive thoughts heading your way. and possibly, once i install my brain, useful clickylinkythings for the stuff you've been talking about.
 
in fact...
as we're both in the (ahem) prime of youth, according to the age ranges on this site..

http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/Main Site v2/14-30 and need help.asp
cater for up to 30 yrs old... start up stuff for self employment/business, skills training.. that sort of ting.
if you wanted to go selfemployment, like. and had an idea.

as for working for a mental health charity, SANE currently need a supporter care person (fundraiser admin type role) http://www.sane.org.uk/AboutSANE/Jobs ... sorry it's not exactly what you're after, but it's a start...

and at no point do you have to click on any of those ;)
sorry it's not a better thought out post, but i'm short on time :(

*goes to google jobs for self*
 
tufty79 said:
depression talking?
if you didn't have any real skills, then you wouldn't have been temping for so long (ie you wouldn't have been that employable).
dude, positive thoughts heading your way. and possibly, once i install my brain, useful clickylinkythings for the stuff you've been talking about.
Click to expand...

perhaps what i mean is that while i have general office and admin skills i don't really have anything out of the ordinary, IYSWIM.
 
Cloo said:
My ex once went to some agency through a charity, I think, which specialised in finding jobs for people with mental health problems, although he didn't have any luck with them. I can't remember who it was, but I'm sure Mind would be able to tell you.
Click to expand...

Was it the Shaw Trust: (http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk)? I've found them pretty helpful, they support you while you're looking for work and continue to help once you've started work. If you start full time work they give you a £200 grant and I think sort it out so if you have to go back on the sick for the original reason you still get the same amount of money you were getting before. They also sorted me out with £83's worth of new shoes and clothes for an interview, which was pretty useful.
 
How very odd. Was in a meeting today with my manager where we were chasing up stuff that other people hadn't done and I have been informed that they can't find anyone else they trust to do complaints, so can I stay indefinitely and we've discussed methods whereby they're a bit more understanding and whatnot. I'm actually impressed. Basically I've been told that provided I'm not taking the piss, they're willing to offer me reasonable unpaid leave at short notice (amongst other minor but accomodating informal things). It may not seem like much but believe me, it's quite important really because it removes the 'OMG i'd gonna get sacked and then no-one will hire me and i'll be evicted or starved' factor.

I wonder if the fact that my contract pays me well below market rate is anything to do with it!
 
Yeah, I think the fact that they couldn't find anyone they trust had more to do with it than run of the mill kindness. But at least I think it has shown her that actually I'm good at my job and I'm about 5 grand a year cheaper than most other people with my skills and experience so she should be grateful!
 
Yeah, i'd certainly agree with that. Already I feel a weight off my mind. Like someone said earlier, understanding. Just having a panic button IMO makes it less likely I'll need to use it.
 
Employment update. They've changed their mind again.

Ho hum. But they were nice enough to ask me to stay for an extra three days the next week. Aren't I lucky?

Still, I've paid this month's rent and I've got enough left to cover next month too I think. And even if I don't work another day this year, the single week of unemployment I've had in 2007 so far means that this is, in fact, my most successfully employed year EVAH.

Anyone got a job going?
 
ah fuck your situation sounds nasty. sorry boy :(

maybe going on the sick temporarily would ease the fear of starvation/homelessness? & give you space to find another job? & i would def try to get some advice from sane etc about how to go about finding employment with depression on your tail.

do you reckon there is anything out there with working hours flexible enough to be totally doable? like transformer trader/rare records dealer etc? or is there just not enough money in it?
 
What a fucking palaver. You may not want to bother but it may be worth seeking legal advice about the merits of a discrimination claim cos, imv, this sounds remarkeably like disability discrimination (that is, if you have a formal diagnosis of depression) - CLS Direct should be able to offer advice with phone call.

Tough luck mate, hope you can sort something else out in the meantime.
 
they've really taken the piss out of you, haven't they?

what a bunch of cunts.

still, onward and upward, best of luck in your next job.
 
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