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

[MizTiggle]

The government will probably see her, and everyone else with depression, fit for work now, because they're bastards.

[Skivvywoman]

I like her she's down to earth!

[Fusedog]

MizTiggle funny how you don't blame the fakers who spoil if for every one else


It's her you should be made at people like her are the reason genuine people get mistaken for scroungers and it's always these fakers who shout the loudest bout there right to do nothing and let me and my hard working oh pay for it ffs

[rinabean]

YABVU. I don't watch the show so I can't comment on her but you obviously don't understand mental illness. Being well enough to be on the telly and wanting to be a politician in the future doesn't mean you're well enough to work - and you can be well enough to 'work' but not for a job, too.

[superstarheartbreaker]

Benefit bashing is so tedious now!

[Tabby1963]

Fusedog, if Dee has depression then surely she can't take part in BB? That awful programme will amplify any mental illness she already has and I thought the contestants were carefully screened beforehand.

I have avoided watching the Benefit Street programme; I knew that the angle would be skewed depending on what the programme makers wanted to highlight.

It does not make sense that anybody would want their private lives splashed all over the media, I just don't get it, same with Jeremy Kyle, what do the guests achieve by being the tv? they rarely come to any agreeable conclusion.

[x2boys]

well if she does become a celebrity ie big brother etc she wont have to claim benefits will she ?

[Misspixietrix]

Sorry OP can you run this by me again? Are you trying to say that she should be able to work in spite of depression because she's done a few tv interviews?...

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I assume you are a mental health professional, who has spoken to Dee in real life - that's the only way you can say for sure that she's faking, Fusedog.

Attitudes like this make me sick, because I have had similar things said to me (thankfully just one person), and I know how hurtful and damaging it is.

[Misspixietrix]

Miztiggle the Government don't need white Dee for that. Atos have been doing a splendid job of doing exactly that for them since 2010.

[AgaPanthers]

Nobody can really determine whether she is depressed.

But by appearing on TV as a mouthy amorphous blob millions will decide that she isn't, and probably go on to judge others accordingly.

I know a couple with depression and other mental illnesses (well they were a couple until he died, aged 42), it's not fun at all. But she is presented on TV as living a life of easy leisure, all pricey fags, fry-ups, and dispensing half-assed advice, and it makes people pretty pissed off.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Well - I live a life of easy leisure and fry-ups, and am always happy to dispense advice, but it's not half-assed or nicotine-stained, so hopefully people aren't judging me too much.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Only occasional fry-ups, I assure you.

[OneStepCloser]

Tabby, unfortunately BB have a history of putting people on the show who are somewhat fragile, they know it's a ratings winner sadly.

[AnyFucker]

she is being exploited, and too thick to realise

pretty much like every other potential BB contestant (if that is true)

she will be dumped when TV viewers (with their notoriously short attention spans) get sick of the sight of her

and if she has a genuine mental illness, that is goig to be very detrimental to her

atm, she thinks she is a telly star

she really isn't

[Jolleigh]

TV appearances aside, if her depression wouldn't prevent her from becoming an MP, it logically follows that her depression shouldn't be preventing her from doing other work.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Did she say she was going to start trying to be one now or very soon?

Surely your not trying to say that if you are sick enough to not be able to work then you will be to sick for the rest of your life so there is no point having hopes or dreams that relate to employment?

[Jolleigh]

From what I remember, she said she's considering becoming one.

I'm certainly not implying that someone suffering from depression isn't allowed to have aspirations, however, announcing to the nation that you're considering doing it is more indicative of someone with intent than someone who thinks there's a vague possibility in the future.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

YABsoooooU OP.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

U for your lack of knowledge about depression. And lack of knowledge of the media industry.

[HRHLadyFarquhar]

TV appearances aside, if her depression wouldn't prevent her from becoming an MP, it logically follows that her depression shouldn't be preventing her from doing other work.

Does it? How many hours does the average backbencher do, and how much stress is the average backbencher under?

These are the hours they could work.
www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/business-faq-page/
What are the sitting (meeting) hours of the House of Commons?
^2.30-10.30pm on Mondays, 11.30am-7.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9.30am-5.30pm on Thursdays and 9.30am-3pm on sitting Fridays.

I randomly picked this MP. Bob Neill, conservative member for Bromley and Chislehurst. Here is a list of debates, along with his attendance. It's hardly 100%. And sitting in the House of Commons is hardly manual labour! S/he has to turn up, sit on seats, listen to arguments/follow party policy, and vote.

Debates with his attendance

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Jolleigh.

Go and learn something about depression start with the information that describes what sort of person gets it (to help you out a bit there is no type).

In this marvellous world we live in we have lots of different people,some people may openly talk about things they want to do,many of these things are quite big things like, be an actress,solve poverty,write a bestselling book,be prime minister,win the lottery.that sort of thing

Some of these people may start trying to do these things instantly most don't.

Other people won't talk openly about things they want to do or won't want to do these sort of things.

Some of the people I've described might also happen to have depression

HTH

[HRHLadyFarquhar]

In 2011, the sitting MPs were quantified by what percentage of debates they failed to attend between Jan and Feb 2011. The second highest was David Cameron, who probably had a good excuse. Roger Godsiff topped the league at 88.5% and I'm not really sure what he's doing instead. Here's his recent voting record. Evidently it wasn't just a blip in attendance that year.