Aibu to disclose mental health issues at interview

[Mamazita]

Hi all,

I've been out of work for 2 years due to getting diagnosed as bipolar and suffering severely with my mental health. I've an interview on Wednesday as a receptionist/administrator and my gut instinct is to disclose this at interview. Mental health issues is the reason I left my last job.

Would you disclose at interview or keep your mouth shut in case it goes against you? Thanks in advance

I wouldn’t say anything at The interview stage. The time to declare it is if you get offered a job and you consider it a disability that you need reasonable adjustments for.

PS - I say that as an interviewer, not as someone with MH problems.

No chance. That would be a very silly thing to do.

Do you require any reasonable adjustments? Does your bipolar meet the criteria for being considered a disability?

If asked, I’d just select on the forms that you do not wish to disclose your disability status at this stage. And then once you’re offered and have accepted the job you can tell them if you think it’s necessary, though if there’s nothing you’re wanting them to do for you I don’t see why you would.

Thank you so much for your reply given your experience as an interviewer. I'll need to think of a good enough reason why I left my last job.

Keep your mouth shut. If they were interested they would have asked about disabilities in the application process.

You want the interviewer to see you not your disability.

I agree. Do not disclose the issues. If you do you won't have a chance of getting the job. It would be discrimination but nothing you could prove.

I would say something that is close enough to the truth that it's not an outright lie, such as it wasn't a role that suited you at the time, you decided to take a career break but you are now excited to get back to work.

The reason I was going to disclose is that it's the reason I left my last job. I'm stable now and have been for 12 months. Bipolar is considered a disability and I have to be careful not to get too stressed as it can trigger a manic episode. I thought employers would want to know this. I think I'll keep quiet about it until I'm offered the role.

If they do ask if you have a disability obviously don't lie but don't offer it on a plate.

I wouldn't offer that information at interview unless asked. I wouldn't disclose any physical health issues I have at that stage either.

I work in MH and having experience yourself was a bonus, so of course I spoke about it, but in a non MH related job I never would until I was hired.

You left your last job due to illness which has now stabilised.

Or

You left your last job to spend time enjoying artistic pursuits/reading/gardening/finding yourself.

Declare on the health questionnaire if you’re offered the job.

Said as both an employer and someone who has suffered with MH problems.

Don’t lie about anything, but I agree with others that you shouldn’t disclose. If they ask why you left your last job you can say it was health problems that are now in the past. No need for more detail. The interview is about your ability to do the job and any condition you have is irrelevant.

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/discrimination-at-work/applying-for-jobs/#two

I think it depends where the interview is, private sector keep quiet, public sector less likely to take it into account. I work within the criminal justice system and have recruited.lots of people with mental and physical health conditions. There are very strict anti discrimination policies that must be followed in those cases.

Thanks all for your advice. I will keep quiet at interview stage.

I wouldn’t, I’d leave that for the occupational health form.
FWIW public sector can be just as bad as private. They just are better at hiding it.

I have MH problems and worked in the public sector, and lost the job I’d just got when they found out.

I haven't ever mentioned during the interview. When I was offered the job I had to fill a form about my health. I just put something like mood disorder. They called me and asked more information. I had to meet their dr who asked information from my psychiatrist. Then she interviewed me and sent a letter to my boss that I am ok to work.

I’d keep quiet. If the employer has a close call between two applicants, why give them the ammunition to dump you?

No, don't disclose. You may well be fine for years and years and it may make no difference to your work with them.

Deal with it if and when you need to.

Unfortunately, however open to diversity etc a company/government org apparently is, it's not worth disclosing until you've at least a contract (afterwards can be helpful sometimes).

Hope everything goes well for you.

Don't offer the information on a platter, but don't lie either.

I didn't disclose my mental health issues when I applied for my current job (a graduate job) but I had to raise it when I had a flare up and was signed off work...it also prevents me from doing some of the work out on site...but now I am part of our mental health champions network (people you can go to for a confidential impartial chat etc) and I am in a great position where my work appreciate what I can and can't do. So my advice is not to offer it straight away, but it is not feasible to go through life hiding mental health issues. You will be more well if you can work with it rather than against it.

Saying you have to be careful not to get too stressed will be an immediate NO from the vast majority of employers, realistically speaking. People think they can’t discriminate but they absolutely can, they just have to make it not obvious. So they’ll find another reason to suggest you’re not the best candidate. Glad to see you deciding to stay quiet at interview stage. Agree with others you ought to mention at offer stage though, you and the employer need to discuss whether they can meet your needs, and if they are aware it’s a job that inherently comes with tonnes of stress I’m sure you’ll want to know that so you can decide whether it’s worth taking or not.

Going against the grain here, but I once interviewed a person and the articulate and reflective way they talked about their depression and anxiety was the reason I gave them the job. That being said, I think it is something to be judged on the individual situation

Just an update I got the job and start on Monday. So, so happy!

Amazing congratulations!

Wowzers, well bloody done!