Depression in the workplace
Updated on 15 June 2009
Jane Deith speaks to Andrea, who works in corporate well-being and has hidden her bipolar disorder from her employers for years.
Andrea has bipolar disorder and has hidden it throughout her career. She has lied about her mental health on pre-employment medical questionnaires every time she has applied for a job.
She works in corporate well-being, advising firms how to look after employees suffering stress and depression. But she feels she must hide her own mental illness.
We have used an actor's voice, to protect Andrea's anonymity and transcribed parts of the interview below.
Jane Deith
What has been the impact of mental health on your career and what condition do you have?
ANDREA
I was diagnosed bi-polar when I was 26. I'm now 40. I have lived with the label for some time.
Previously I was very unwell and being in and out of hospital, curtailed my ability to get a good education and influenced my decision to have a career in well-being and the mental health services.
JD
Tell me what decisions you've made as you've approached applying for jobs over the years. Have you disclosed you are bi-polar or not?
ANDREA
No. I have had a number of situations in my life when I have been asked to disclose (my mental health history) on pre-employment questionnaires and consistently I have decided not to.
JD
Why?
ANDREA
Two reasons - there's always the fear an employer will potentially take the job offer away if you disclose (your mental health) to them and secondly if they do actually give you the job, I have always had a fear of being seen as less able, less capable, less efficient, more likely to go off sick.
JD
How do you feel about having to conceal your mental health history
ANDREA
I feel very sad actually. Um. I feel sad I have to be in hiding for something that's not my fault and is just an illness that's like heart disease, diabetes, anything else.
There's a great sense of injustice actually about that, because I can't ever really be myself. The experience I bring to clients in my work isn't probably seen as valuable as if it were coming from somebody really living it. But again I just can't actually risk that.
JD
What would your advice be to employers: "keep using these questionnaires, cover your backs" or "scrap them"?
ANDREA
I don't see how pre-employment questionnaires really give you a full view of somebody's abilities, of what they bring to a job as a human being with experience and intelligence.
I see it actually as a way to weed out the weaker, if you will. Um, if employers are interested in only having a workplace with machines working for them who bring no experience and humanity to the role, then clearly that's their decision.
I personally feel that pre-employment questionnaires absolutely do not add value and in fact they send a very serious message to people with mental health problems that "you're not wanted, you don't belong and we're going to watch you and we're going to police you, and first wrong move and you're out".
JD
Employers might say if we ask the question, at least we can help employees once they're with us and we can make allowances and can try and make their work patterns suit their health. We have a duty of care towards our employees. Can you see that argument?
ANDREA
In terms of what I do for a living it's all about duty of care, morally, legislatively and otherwise and I think that's a fantastic attitude for an employer to have.
However, there is such a lack of knowledge about mental health issues generally and within the workplace there is more at risk, the bottom line is at risk.
If you leave it to somebody who is say bi-polar, I can see the argument an employer could make but I would want to say to them, please don't use it as an excuse. Reasonable work adjustments are still not being made on a regular basis for people who disclose mental health issues.
JD
What about the future? Are you optimistic that one day you will be able to be open about having bi-polar with an employer?
ANDREA
Ah - I'd like to be able to say yes. I think I've got 25 years left in my career. I absolutely do not see it being appropriate to do that within my lifetime.
But for people who're coming up behind me, possibly in 50 years or 60 years time, something like that, it might be appropriate.
I don't know, it doesn't seem possible at the moment. I know a lot of people in employment terms will see somebody with depression for example as being a little bit flighty, as likely to go off sick, maybe less intelligent than other people and certainly not fit to be put in charge of a budget, for example.
And I think that is a prevailing, albeit shocking view, that is still around so I think maybe a change (in attitude) in 25 years is probably asking too much. It's too soon.
JD
If I was taking anti-depressants and was applying for a new job, what would your advice to me be?
ANDREA
It breaks my heart to have to say this but I would suggest that you didn't reveal the fact that you were taking anti-depressants because you'd be running two risks.
One, you probably wouldn't be working there after submitting your pre-employment questionnaire, and secondly I'd be very fearful about the treatment you'd get in the work place.
Would you be bullied because of that? Would you be passed over for promotion? Would you be seen as less able or less capable? That's the reality I have experienced in the past when I have disclosed it to friends. And I think employers are very similar in that way.
