to think that people who are well enough to volunteer stewarding at Festivals every single weekend are well enough to work?

[TalkinPeace]

Person has never worked due to MH and back pain - both of which are directly linked to morbid obesity.
Tells the MH people they are agarophobic, but seem OK in a field all weekend every weekend

and are thus getting into festivals for free when other people have to pay

the whole lot being funded by benefits.

The person is nice enough but if I put it on my FB feed they will see and realise I'm being judgy.
But am I being unreasonable to be annoyed?

Agree with Book. I have quite bad MH problems that ebb and flow and volunteering at a homeles charity was the best thing I ever did and has been a gateway. I'm sure some of my FB friends think I'm taking the piss too But sod 'em. I'd pick being able to work over struggling with MH all the time any day!

You are and you aren't being U.

The thing with having a long-term MH problem is that it does tend to infantilise one, and often makes one quite selfish and self-serving compared to psychologically healthy peers. Everything about being alive
Is ten times harder when you are unwell, and it's not that surprising that people will seek out ways to pass their time that they will enjoy, rather than what society considers to be productive.

It's a viscious cycle tho, and as much as I hate the Tories attitude to people who incapacitated I also don't think signing people off indefinitely is the way to go either.

I think in a decent society, there would be a more occupational therapeutic approach to getting people back on their feet.

YANBU. Working a festival is physically tiring and mentally engaging. Not great for someone with back pain problems (which I have). I can see it being more of a problem to be claustrophobic than agoraphobic given the crowds. But still something that should mean you're fit enough to return to work on a phased in basis, even one day a week or a few hours a day to begin with. You'll get lots of folk saying YABU and giving creative reasons why though.

it does tend to infantilise one, and often makes one quite selfish and self-serving compared to psychologically healthy peers

That's pretty general! Some people end up constantly worrying about everyone else and feeling guilty about their MH problems...usually because of attutude's like the OPs. Some people DO take the piss but it's hard to do with all the cuts etc.

I had a patient previously who did this and it saved their life. No way could they take the structure and stress of work but a bit of fresh air over the summer. Being around people who didn't judge. and yes they got money for food drink and travel did them the power of good and helped them cope with the winter months

YABVVVVU

I totally agree with that Saucyjack.

I work as an adviser( for a charity) which helps people return to work, many paid jobs these days ( even or especially nmw ones) put enormous pressure on people, some of those with asd or mh issues just cant sustain working in these environments, often end up repeatedly losing or failing to even get jobs. People with cfs may cope with a day of casual work/ volunteering but then be so exhausted they maybe in bed for a week.

YANBU but prepared to be flamed. A lot of people who have MH and don't like working hold down a full time job. But its almost impossible to disprove, even for doctors.

As for the financial side of things, I'd be surprised if this person isn't getting back handers or free stuff.

I think yabu. Butt out. A family member of mine is agoraphobic and she was told to do this EXACT thing to help conquer it and battle her fears.

If they are getting 'back handers or free stuff' then the festivals will be breaking the law. There are incredibly strict guidelines about volunteering and this is not allowed. Expenses and food are generally expected to be provided but anything else and places will be in serious trouble.

Mind your own fucking business.

OK, I'll bite.

Plenty of mental health problems in my friends and family.

One of them used to go on 50-mile cycle rides while being, quite genuinely, completely unfit for work - because they had just come out of a secure unit where they were being treated for psychotic delusions.

One was told by a psychiatrist to spend workday afternoons in the supermarket or cinema, to help in overcoming OCD.

Another was signed off work for six weeks for depression and told either to up the antidepressants or get out for long walks every day.

Unless you are their doctor, you are only seeing the surface.

vvega, there haven't been very many weekends since the start of May. Just how fast do you think mental health problems clear up?

(Bloody years, in my unfortunately broad experience.)

Yanbu but you should have known this is mn and the predictable responses you will get on this.

There also haven't been that many festivals since the beginning of May - but volunteering every single weekend suggests something organised or permanent. Perhaps this is the way volunteers are organised - through agencies - but it also suggests some commitment and relationship with the organisers.

YABU

Volunteering to do something you enjoy and being in paid employment are not the same thing by any stretch of the imagination (unless you're a bit dim)

I have MH difficulties and AS and have never managed to hold down a job, despite many attempts. But I've done voluntary work every week with the same organisation for 40 years. For me the difference is not feeling the pressure of having to be there/do something and feeling in control of wha's happening to me.

Why is she not being unreasonable, AuntyMag?

She knows the person has MH issues and a mental health team involved. She cannot have all the medical details.

Why don't you do some festival volunteering yourself if you want to go to all the festivals for free?

Facebook isn't real life. Perhaps your friend doesn't want to post about the disability, their MH struggles and other difficulties so all you see is the good stuff.

I think you should mind your own business and perhaps unfriend this person as it seems you aren't really a friend.

Event steward volunteers do sometimes get to see bands, and sometimes they get stuck on a distant craft tent door as the rain hammers down.

That's interesting, Hedgehog. DS similarly has AS and MH problems but finds it easier to work than to make decisions about leisure activities, where the element of choice tends to panic him utterly.

Facebook isn't real life. Perhaps your friend doesn't want to post about the disability

Well exactly.

If you look at my relative's Facebook posts, you see happy stuff. Cycle rides, walking trips, puppies. Things other people might find cute or interesting.

You don't see posts about meltdowns, rocking in corners, panicking about cancer, being unable to eat because of obsessive anxiety, or being in a mental health unit.

Just report them if you're worried about it, let the professionals sort it out...