To think that White Dee from Benefit St isn't doing people with depression any favours

[Bearbehind]

I've just seen White Dee from Benefits St being interviewed on Sky a News about the budget.

She said she can't work due to her having depression- yet she can appear on TV and is not ruling out standing as a politician

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

The key factor is getting a job that pays enough to make it a worthwhile alternative to benefits therefore it follows that if she can't find such a job she will continue to opt for benefits which involves claiming to be unable to work due to depression

Nope, when she becomes fit for work she is obligated to report a change she then would be a job seeker instead of unfit for work

If she's prepared to do this in the future

Are you now accusing her of benefit fraud?

This also implies to me that the key factor in her decision isn't her depression, it's whether she could change things quickly. If she felt she could make a difference now she might do it

She spends most of a conversation talking about her mental health and desire to work when she's well and you decide the only serious bit is something she "wouldn't dismiss the possibility of"

[FreudiansSlipper]

can people with depression work - yes of course many many do

does depression stop people from work - yes for many it does

is she herself depressed well she has been signed off with depression (which is not always that hard to do)

no one but herself knows how she feels but we can not ignore that many are claiming to be depressed and are not willing to try and help themselves which is very very hard when you are depressed for some at times it feels impossible

we can not define depression to one fit all diagnosis as some people function others do not. it is understandable that some question how depressed she is when she is on tv talking about a future career others may say this is part of her illness her unable to look at goals in a realistic way (but of course is manipulated by what we see)

[Misspixietrix]

we can not define depression to one fit for all diagnosis when some people function, others do not. This^^!!

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

From what I can tell, looking around last night, she has been signed of with depression for a significant period of time and is being treated by her CMHT. I don't know about her area but round here that level of treatment would be 2nd or 3rd stage in the pathway and reserved for the more serious cases.

Given the amount of time I'm guessing she has been on ESA my guess would be that at this stage she has been diagnosed/assessed/treated by her GP, an ATOS advisor (and trust me this isn't easy), possibly a tribunal of doctors at an ESA appeal and probably any one of a number of MHT employees such as psychotherapists, CPNs, psychologists and psychiatrists.

There also appears to be mention of other MH issues that aren't depression.

Leaving the issue of not dismissing being an MP aside for a moment, I think it's a reasonably safe conclusion that she might have some sort of depressive illness unless people really think they know better that trained professionals and specialists.