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Posted Wednesday 5 October 2011
This is a guest blog from Jenny on how almost anyone could experience mental health problems, unemployment and face the challenges of the welfare system.
The warped standards with which the society judges those on sickness benefits sets us all up for a miserable and self-loathing experience of unemployment.
My behaviour and self-esteem were not entirely ‘normal’ from about 12 years old. Difficult events plus a predisposition towards depression has meant life has often been a rollercoaster of trying to cope. However, a degree and jobs which fed my confidence confounded psychiatrists’ predictions that I’d only ever manage part-time low-stress work. Then recession hit my area of work badly, and following my second redundancy I spent two years unemployed.
After crashing out of a temporary job in less than a week, I made a claim for employment support allowance (ESA). The application process was humiliating, and unfit for assessing varying mental health conditions, exacerbating feelings of self-loathing. Scoring zero points in the assessment confirmed my belief that I was weak and lazy, not depressed, a reaction stemming from prevailing societal attitudes and the illness itself.
I appealed, but felt too scared to attend when the tribunal date arrived. I stopped claiming benefits; came off the anti-depressants I couldn’t believe were helping; and sank into the worst depression of my life. Trying to fake the positive feelings I didn’t believe I’d ever have again, I began waking early, having suicidal thoughts, and plummeting in weight.
Welfare reform was up for debate in Parliament, and the media was full of the usual scrounger rhetoric. I took the discussion of sickness claimants who are ‘not really ill’ as directed at me. A myth is perpetuated that once signed off, no one claiming sickness benefit would ever work again unless forced. It’s not true. Unemployment is confidence draining and deadly dull, sapping motivation and thus appearing to expose the claimant as ‘just lazy’. Those who judge others by these warped standards should be warned: the harder you are on others now, the more you’ll loath yourself when it’s you.
I’m privileged: six months with my parents in a better NHS postcode got me the support that led me to choose to live, and once on that path the desire to work grew rapidly. I’ve now been working for five months, and am more content than ever before in my adult life. Almost anyone could have my experience, with poor mental health being caused and exacerbated by unemployment. Many who face long-term joblessness because of their mental health conditions have far more serious challenges to overcome than I did.
They may never have their confidence built by a job where they are truly valued, and society tells them they’re to blame for that. Meanwhile, Government cuts: programmes which used to give hope; legal aid for benefit cases; and benefits as cost of living soars. Mind is leading the fight back for the mental health lobby, and no one is more important to that fight than mental health service users. We can use our experiences to help others, and perhaps reduce the judgmental rhetoric that hurts everyone.
Jenny
If the changes to benefits are causing you distress, please visit our page on where to find help or contact the Mind infoline on 0300 123 3393.
25 Comments
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I became unable to work about 3 years ago - stress, depression, low self-esteem that just built up until I could no longer hide it underneath a fake smile. I take anti-depressants because they keep the worst at bay. I've had counselling, group therapy and CBT, but all that's happened is that I understand more clearly just how useless I am and my self-esteem continues to plummet. Headlines about "benefit scroungers" don't help either. I hope I'll be able to work again, but I don't know what as. I couldn't go back to my old job, even if they were taking people on instead of making them redundant.
Frequently try to make even the smallest decision can cause paralysing anxiety. I can't manage phonecalls, I wouldn't employ me, so how can I convince anyone else to? -
I have suffered from varying degrees of depression for many years now and still struggle with a constant up hill struggle just to stay on top of things. I claimed for disability allowance at first but the guilt of having an unseen and misunderstood illness along with the guilt of having to claim benefit got too much to bare. I stopped claiming it, even though I was still entitled to claim. I would love to be out and working but I need the reassurance that whoever I worked for, have the understanding of my needs in the workplace and support me within the workplace. I cannot ever see me going back to work now which I find sad as I know I would thrive and give it my all with the right support and understanding.
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Well said Jenny. I am fighting my damned hardest not to slip into the benefit trap, as I think it is an emotional trap, as well as financial. I am an Occupational Therapist by training-have been for over 10 years, and due to work stress ended up in a right old mess at the end of 2009. I have tried to return to work on several occasions, while taking out a grievance regarding the working conditions. I have not succeeded in resuming my career, and am now awaiting redeployment into a part time admin post, at the same time applying for anything I think I might cope with, including shop assistant, minibus driver for elderly people, librarian, admin assistant positions, all part time and low income. I have not had 1 interview-my CV identifies I'm over qualified and I should imagine alarm bells ring. Self employment is a path I am definitely considering if no one else will give me a chance!
My depression feels pretty chronic-2 years and the meds are still being played with to try and get them to be effective. It is not just the depression that can zap your energy the meds too can be draining. I do go through phases of beating myself up for feeling lazy, but it is the fatigue that leads to my inactivity, however I have started to stand up for myself if any one else suggests I'm just lazy!
This really is not an existence that anyone would choose, but then nor was my existence in 2009 when I broke down. I am often confused and unsure of how much progress I am making in my recovery, sometimes it feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I know I had a vast range of knowledge and skills before, and they are still there, but it can be very hard to actually have the stamina and emotional energy to employ them. I always used to sell myself on my interpersonal skills, but now I spend so much time alone, and struggle with sensory processing when in busy situations, I'm not sure of myself. I figure I'm on a new path of self discovery, and hopefully a balanced way of living. -
Many IN WORK may well become sick in the future. Many of those individuals it seems at the moment are calling for sickness benefit cuts. Research shows that attitudes have hardened after 15 years of intense propaghanda by government and the media.
What these people probably do not realise is that sickness benefit is almost certainly going to be means teste after 12 months of being in receipt of ESA. come April 2012 together with the cynical backdating to include the previous ESA claimed months for those in receipt of ESA WRAG.
David Cameron the Prime Minister was asked about welfare reform yesterday on Radio 5 and the fear created by all politicans involved in welfare reform.
For the first time a commentator asked Who will employ the sick? Cameron spun the usual of £14,000 per person for employment providers to help difficult cases find work.
The money David Cameron said to fund the work programme would be advanced from the Treasuary and recouped from welfare savings. What he did not say of course is those savings will probably come from money that is going to be taken off sick people through means testing witchhunt medicals, and sanctions. All totally unnecessary actions by organisations that will bring untold misery
The truth is very few employers are going to employ those with mental illness in any significant number in paid employment. They never have and never will in my opinion.
Looking at the economy however perhaps the whole lot will collapse and many of those laying into the sick now will smell fear and humiliation for themselves. On a bad day I personally would be happy to go down with the Titanic knowing the people behind all of this were going down as well.
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We are in the frightening stage of having up to 32 adults in recovery from addiction who will lose their benefit entitlement in April if the new "Time spent on ESA" legislation comes in.
We currently meet the demands for people who automatically enter the "work related" group but are concerned that those with us for a combined period of claim, including their prior interventionby us, will be barred from their claim, after all sometimes it may take several months on ESA for the person to look to get clean and/or sober and this effects their time limit.
Many of us complete the "Theraputic Community" model as described by George De Leon and then enter the workplace, with little further intervention within 12-18 months.
But why should we be forced to fail a programme of bettering ourselves and then only days/weeks/months/years be part of the system again?
I am example of the programme who spent a total of 20 months on ESA and on the Theraputic community, before gaining full time employment with the organisation, but spent 2 years on jumping from JSA to ESA.
Does anyone have any info on how this will work?
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worthless - you could be describing me with what you have written. I am at the lowest stage ever experienced in my life. Am on the verge of being dismissed from work due to my long term sickness and with not being able to give a return date, I don't blame my employers. They have to run a business and paying me for stopping at home is not cost efficient. I feel all the above that you wrote about, no self esteem, no confidence, frightened of new situations and the list goes on. I too think I will never be able to go back to my current employment the thought of it makes me feel suicidal. 'well' people do not understand the constant anxiety and the 'what if' continuous thoughts that go on in my mind. If it helps you at all, take some positivity in the fact that I feel the same and you are not alone. Reading your comment has given me a small glimmer of confidence that there are others out there like me, but are all wearing 'fake masks of normality'. I wish you well.
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10 Years ago I gained a family, relocated and left a very good job to concentrate on parenthood. 2 years ago, I was unable to relocate back to where I was from, back into working for previous employer unless I left my children behind. I had no home, put on anti depressents due to the family court system, who opposite side made out that I couldnt cope with life???
I had no job, because I was a full time mum was seperated from my family but to the family court system, wasnt important?
My emotional and financial wellbeing was never took into account.
I am on benefits, but living in a affluent small city, low income, high living costs, is very depressing. I am unable to relocate for employment.
Financially work wise I have to make it liveable, I only have my children half of the time (2 of them) but I only get 1 child benefit, no tax credit, so I would have to pay for childcare out of my own pocket.
Worked for a company on 6mth contract, but as I wasnt fully flexiable due to my home situation with children they wouldnt extend contract.
My kids hated on my days being in childcare upto 7pm, I didnt really see them.
Im now back on anti depressents as its the only way I can cope.
Looking for that job that fit in with family life and to be happy and my children time with me happy is hard to come by.
When I worked, I was actually in debt by £33 pw.
I have asked myself, do I give up my children to better myself to which will better them for the future?? or does it??
Im not prepared to leave my children and relocate and my time with my young children is important, but Im at times made to feel ashamed I am in receipt of benefits. Even when people dont know the bigger picture and that in its self brings you to a low. -
I was first referred to psychology at around 6 yrs old, was hospitalised a couple of times when a child and have been close to being sectioned on occasions in my adult life...between those episodes O have trained and worked as many things including a Mental Health Care Practitioner. Unfortunately difficult life events can trigger my anxiety and depression as does pain which I suffer. Now retired on health grounds, I help as a volunteer for www.benefitsandwork.co.uk , I maintain some of the social media that they use to offer information for benefits claimants. I also deliver workshops to local school children on art photography when I am well enough. My wife supports me finacially which has been really difficult to accept but I keep pushing myself (within my limits most of the time) as the self esteem issues do subside if I engage with the world. I think the way Benefits Claimants are treated is a disgrace, not just sick and disabled but in general....do these successive governments not realise they are adding to the likely hood of someone feeling and therefore becoming useless! It is about time we replaced the professional politician with people who have experience in running departments that are crucial to our social cohesion.
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Thanks for sharing this Jenny. I am a high school teacher, my block entry a few days ago explains my work position etc. I sent off my application booklet for ESA a fortnight ago. Not heard anything yet. Not looking forward to when I do hear from them either given what I have heard and read. WE ARE GENUINELY ILL!!!!!!!!!!
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To worthless and mewmew79,
I'm really sorry to hear about the situation you both find yourselves in, and I hope that it will get better for you. There are organisations out there who can help in different ways - you can call the Mind infoline to on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk to find out about different services in you area. We also have a page on where you can get help - http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/policy_and_issues/making_benefits_fairer-welfare_reform/where_you_can_find_help
Best wishes, and good luck,
Richard from Mind -
Well done Jenny. I've had self-esteem issues contributing to intermittent depression too but, similar to you, a degree and successful career helped.
All well until a fellow healthcare professional saw my equal ops form and (admitted when questioned after) decided that a tick in MH box meant I must be a risk to others and leaked the information. A bullying campaign ensued from someone who it later transpired has previous complaints against them. When I dared to report it as I was becoming suicidal at the thought of going into work, the real problems started. My 'supportive' employer (signed up to all the anti-stigma pledges) strung things out for 4yrs whilst I dragged myself into work, never implemented the Occ Health advice (cost-free), even asked Occ Health to change their medical report (me fit), and when OH refused said "we'll find another way of getting rid of her then".
I've now attempted suicide twice (had never before), suffer PTSD symptoms from management bullying, have full support of my GP, but consultant psychiatrist says he feels _unable to criticise his own employer_ and none of deterioration is stress-related(!). Have ended up in a depression so deep that the reasons for suicide attempts now appear trivial.
Like Benny, I'd need supporting back into work, but with hundreds of fit people in my profession fighting for minimal posts, who'd take someone needing support and with a sick record now affected? My mortgage insurance invalid as I'm being dismissed. No way am I in a fit state to be a Jobseeker at present, my 'gold-plated' pension will only pay out injury benefit if psychiatrist confirms work connection. So....after 20yrs of paying into the National 'Insurance' system, I now find myself in the ESA lottery, needing recovery time, with the current stigma of "benefit scrounger" to 'help' get my self-confidence back.
Thank you NHS! -
Well done Jenny. I've had self-esteem issues contributing to intermittent depression too but, similar to you, a degree and successful career helped.
All well until a fellow healthcare professional saw my equal ops form and (admitted when questioned after) decided that a tick in MH box meant I must be a risk to others and leaked the information. A bullying campaign ensued from someone who it later transpired has previous complaints against them. When I dared to report it as I was becoming suicidal at the thought of going into work, the real problems started. My 'supportive' employer (signed up to all the anti-stigma pledges) strung things out for 4yrs whilst I dragged myself into work, never implemented the Occ Health advice (cost-free), even asked Occ Health to change their medical report (me fit), and when OH refused said "we'll find another way of getting rid of her then".
I've now attempted suicide twice (had never before), suffer PTSD symptoms from management bullying, have full support of my GP, but consultant psychiatrist says he feels _unable to criticise his own employer_ and none of deterioration is stress-related(!). Have ended up in a depression so deep that the reasons for suicide attempts now appear trivial.
Like Benny, I'd need supporting back into work, but with hundreds of fit people in my profession fighting for minimal posts, who'd take someone needing support and with a sick record now affected? My mortgage insurance invalid as I'm being dismissed. No way am I in a fit state to be a Jobseeker at present, my 'gold-plated' pension will only pay out injury benefit if psychiatrist confirms work connection. So....after 20yrs of paying into the National 'Insurance' system, I now find myself in the ESA lottery, needing recovery time, with the current stigma of "benefit scrounger" to 'help' get my self-confidence back.
Thank you NHS! -
I went to one of those assessment interviews for ESA. I could bend over and I could pick up a pencil and so I am fit enough for work.
Depression can't be an illness, then. Depression can't be debilitating in any way. Perhaps, then, Depression doesn't actually exist if you can bend and pick up a pencil.
Perhaps they should ensure that the examination/assessment that is carried out relates directly to the reason why the claimant is on ESA in the first place.
Anyone with Depression can pick up a pencil. That doesn't mean that they can work effectively or for any length of time, or even at all.
If someone with Depression is going to be assessed then they should be assessed by someone who knows about Depression and what it can do to a person.
Physical assessments for people with mental health problems is like examining the ear canal for signs of an ingrowing toenail.
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There is a certain smug arrogance of people who assume they could never get distressed, never lose their job or be unable to work, and for them to sit in judgment of anyone who has. Unless they are independently wealthy [like the 23 millionaire cabinet ministers] anyone cane end up in that position and so it's ridiculous to act like there's a crystal ball guaranteeing employment, good health and no disability. Same for when people say 'I could never hurt or kill myself', they might as well be saying 'I will never get cancer'.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/06/coroner-verdicts-underestimate-suicides
This is an interesting piece – that suicide stats are possibly being underestimated and masking the effects of the current economic crisis on suicide - but of course suicide no longer matters does it because ESA and PIP exclude self-harm as a descriptor.Most people who kill themselves have prior experience of self-harm therefore if self-harm as a risk factor in suicide is denied, and suicide in response to economic factors is denied i.e. losing job/welfare then presumably if it isn't said then it isn't happening, a bit like putting fingers in the ears and saying loudly lalalalalalalalala..
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DLA replacement PIP will not only exclude danger to self as a descriptor it will pretty much exclude mental health [see articles in this months Mental Health Today and Mental Health Practise]. It's going to be weighted towards physical disability. There's a clear discriminatory drive against mental health.
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Like the occupiers in Wall Street holding that sign saying "the police are one layoff away from joining us". But no-one ever thinks it'll happen to them, and everyone knows that if it did happen to them they'd pull their socks up and recover within 3 weeks meaning they wouldn't have to become a nasty scrounger.
We all sit around on blogs discussing how scary it all is. But no-one listens because those reading this already have a vested interest (preaching to the converted) and mainstream media will never ever pick it up. No-one cares and nothing is going to stop them doing exactly what they want. -
True Filthy Scrounging Scum, so why on earth are Time for Change, Dept of Health & 20 million for tackling discrimination going to make a dot of difference given it's most institutionalised WITHIN government and government departments. It's like giving money to the BNP to to talk about racial equality
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I find it very hard to swallow that Mind and Rethink are taking millions for an anti-discrimination campaign which won't even target today's main culprits [government depts] when that money could fund lawyers to take up welfare discrimination via ATOS etc to higher courts.
Or it could fund some legal aid people can't access, representation at tribunals, or an entire advocacy service.I'm incensed - and I'm off, I can no longer comment here.
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@ FSC 'we all sit around discussing how scary it is but no one listens'
Absolutely right=I've been following these blogs for nearly 2 years now and I've yet to hear from a so called health professional supporting our cause. They don't even read them. These are the people so keen to park us on benefits in the first place instead of helping us get work and now the tide has turned and we can look forward to nothing they have gone strangely quiet. I could do their job but I havn't a chance in hell with my history, in fact I havn't got a chance of ANY job. So what are we left with, blogging on Minds blog where no bugger even reads, let alone supports. Part of me hopes all those smug people lucky enough to be in work and look down on us end up like us, don't think I'll be listening
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Mindreader I agree wholeheartedly but I wish you would reconsider your decision to not comment here any more. You're one of the few commenters here who ever speak the real truth, the truth that even Mind don't want to make public [given their decisions over what to censor and/or moderate].
This government wants us dead, we know that. But if we all stop using even the smallest vehicle for our views, where will we stand then? I've taken risks before with what I've allowed of myself to be known in the public arena and the reason is that I feel I have nothing to lose and I refuse to sit back and just let it happen. If all I can do some days is comment here [where we're preaching to the converted], if that's the limit of my ability then I shall continue to do so. I wish you would too Mindreader, if nothing else we can show people who are terrified of losing their incomes and lives that they are not alone in their fears.
None of the big organisations are speaking up for us any more [Mind as an organisation don't even get me started, far too little far too late from them] with the possible exception of the CAB but with all their funding cuts they can ill-afford to waste their valuable resources campaigning. No-one, NO-ONE, will speak for us, so we have to do it ourselves or die trying.
Linda I have to agree, I doubt anyone inflicting this hell on us would be doing so if they lived three weeks in our shoes.
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Dear Mindreader, I'm sorry to hear that you don’t feel like you can comment here any longer - I hope you will reconsider.
We agree that welfare reform, legal aid and advocacy are crucial issues for people with mental health problems. That’s why we won’t stop our fighting against benefits stigma and an unfair and ineffective welfare system for people with mental health problems:
However, we know from research that many people face stigma and discrimination from family, friends, employers and their communities, which can be as bad as, or even worse than the symptoms of the illness itself, and our Time to Change campaign has been shown to be an effective way of delivering behaviour change among the general public on a mass scale. (This page explains the impact the campaign has had so far: http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/about-us/our-impact)
We hope that by changing public attitudes about mental health in general we can also help build more public understanding and support for our work on issues such as welfare reform which gives us a greater chance of changing government policy.
In the second phase of the programme we will continue our local work in communities (including grants for 75 local projects), and to build the confidence of people with mental health problems to address stigma and become active citizens. We will engage employers and organisations to address their policies around mental health, and provide a media advisory service that will support the media to change the way they report on and present mental health issues.
The campaign provides a banner for all the work that goes on within our movement for change, and gives us the means to recruit supporters and partners. It gets mental health out into the open and onto the public agenda, which is necessary in order to change social norms.
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So where's the evidence? Getting mental health out in the open only benefits people with mild and temporary problems and increasese s the stigma faced by those of us with enduring problems, it s like a two teir system reather like the mental services who decide who they want to help based on whether they like the person or not. The stabbing in Bexleyheath was by a woman who asked for help and was refused it.
Yes, the government, the plebian sheep and the media want us dead but our deaths will be conviently narrative verdicts so the suicide stats can be hidden. Yes Mind people suffer from the stigma of families, employers and just about the rest of the damn world, we are isolated, belittled, patronised and demonised, something which would not be tolerated by any other group in society. Clearly nothing will change no one will speak for us and as we are 'nutters' no one will liestn to us. So having said all that I am joining Mindreader and signing off. -
Thanks very much Taryn for taking the time to summarize the ethos behind the Time to Change campaign and its major elements.
I fully understand the need to challenge the stigma accompanying mental illness, whether caused by some kind of temporary breakdown or in the case of long-term enduring conditions. As expressed by Mindreader and other contributors, i likewise hope that some of that funding will be channelled into campaign work and projects such as the Daily Stigma aimed at highlighting the unacceptable suffering being caused by welfare reform.
http://www.mind.org.uk/news/5713_mind_fights_back_against_benefits_stigma
Linda, my experience of the MH profession has been more positive than yours. My consultant psychiatrist would support me with benefit claims if i felt that was what i needed or 'back into work' if i thought that was the better option for me (or indeed a combination of the two or voluntary work). Like you, i wish more MH professionals and GPs etc would speak out against appalling medicals, conditionality, sanctions and other ugly elements of welfare reform.
BBC Wales produced an excellent, but i have to say distressing radio programme at the weekend, on the deeply flawed work capability assessment (it won't remain on i-player for long). One of the people being interviewed was clearly in a great deal of pain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015pvyv/Eye_on_Wales_09_10_2011/
Mindreader and Linda - please reconsider your decisions. I regularly look out for your views on the issues raised in the Mind blogs. Whatever you decide - a big thanks from me for your honesty and insight.
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I always wonder if it's only me, but is being unhappy or a lack of self esteem really the reason people take time off work?
With me, the reason I take time off work is because I get confused. People will speak to me, I can hear them making sounds, but I don't know what they're saying. It's like they're speaking a foreign language. I make mistake after mistake after mistake because I can't concentrate. If anything, I create work for my colleagues not help to shoulder the burden. I overflow sinks because I switch a tap on but am too "out of it" to switch it off. I do something then instantly forget I have done it and repeat my actions. I forget I'm doing something in the middle of doing it if something distracts me, which leaves things half done. This is embarrassing for me - I look weird and it means I have the constant sense of failure that I can't do my job.
I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or a personality disorder or anything psychiatric (as far as I know). I simply don't have the symptoms for those things.
I had always been something of a "high achiever". I worked hard, I did well, I was bright enough to be capable and, according to friends, I always did well under pressure. Then I worked too hard and, when I was 19, I had a nervous breakdown. The simple answer for why I am the way I am now is that I didn't recover, not properly. My problem is simple - anxiety and chronic exhaustion. Every day I feel that I haven't slept. I know that all I need is a rest - a real rest, longer enough to get back to a state of health - and then I will go back to being a productive member of society, like I used to be.
I am still in work as I find it too stressful to even think about ESA and I also worry that I will get worse if I have too much time alone to think. But surely others suffer these symptoms? Should we not be telling the world that we're not just off because we're sad, but because we can't function?
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