Be honest -you wouldn't employ a person with certain mental health issues, would you?

[sportmax]

That's ludicrous- if they're competent and fit for the job - of course I would. That's what I imagine most people would say.
But I don't think people are really being honest with themselves.

What if the person had a mental health issue like social anxiety, would you still want to hire them? Probably not.

I'm fucking reporting this disgusting thread, hope it gets taken down. OP, you should be ashamed of yourself for such an attitude. I hope you're not in a position to recruit anyone as you clearly do not understand that what you've written is discriminatory. Would you ask the same question if it were a physical disability?

You need to work on your social skills op.

@RabbityMcRabbit

Maybe RTFT?

I wonder how people feel about employing new staff with cancer? After all, one in three of us will have a cancer diagnosis in our lifetimes. Just like one in four will have mental illness.

@cherrypavlova - MY tone is unpleasant?! Compared to those respondents who've outright admitted they're prejudiced and even acting illegally?!

You made that comment in the context of mental illness. I took it that you were referring to people with a mh DX or with a mh condition that wasn't DX because why would you need to be talking about otherwise unreliable employees on a thread discussing mh discrimination in employment?

Rabbity - classic case of needing to rtft - the op is NOT a discriminator themselves, instead they believe they are the victim of discriminatory practice and are frustrated as a result. Yes there are some pretty disgusting posts on here which I'm not even bothering reporting for 2 reasons

1 the people making them deserve to have their prejudices at least known on mn

2 mnhq aren't in my experience particularly good at dealing with disablist posts when it comes to those discriminating against the mentally ill.

There are numerous posts on completely unrelated threads where posters have put the most appalling even criminal behaviour down to someone possibly being mentally ill with no evidence of this.

There are also lots of posts where specific mh conditions (I'll admit I tend to notice the ocd ones) are spoken of in dismissive, even "humorous" ways - eg "I'm so OCD I have to have all my crockery matching" "I'm a bit OCD" etc

There is still SO much ignorance, miseducation and prejudice to address and those of us most affected by it are generally the least able to deal with it because we're already knackered just from dealing with being ill! From trying to get the help we're eligible for despite institutionalised prejudice causing many obstacles to treatment, money to live on, support for our loved ones...

We need open and honest discussion so that we can correct the misconceptions and educate people as to our reality.

Rabbit unless you want to look like a complete idiot, I’d try reading at least the OP’s posts.

OP, YANBU. I’ve come to the conclusion that interview are not really a very good way of picking the most suitable candidate for a lot of jobs.

applauds PP

Basketofkittens - yes there is prejudice against people with physical illnesses/disability too

To the pp that mentioned maternity discrimination - yes absolutely that's an issue too

But there being prejudice there too doesn't make it any less important to discuss mh discrimination. It's a distraction.

Though employers who are likely to discriminate for one are more likely to discriminate generally in my experience

Good employers are good employers all round, bad employers tend to be bad all round.

Depends on the role. If the role needs you to make a judgement call everyday then social anxiety is probably not going to get better but I'm sure you can play up your positives. But remember- Not every job requires to have outgoing nature.

Also interviews - think of it as practice for the right one, or just go in for a chat to see if YOU Like the role. It's your chance to interview them to see if they have the right environment /job for you.

Keep it up! You're doing great!

I don’t declare my bipolar because I’ve got every job I’ve applied for when I haven’t declared it and been turned down every time I have

This is the reality.

Sorry to hear that darkpassenger. I've a friend who suffered very badly with social anxiety for years to the point she couldn't work or socialise at all. She's much better and on medication now but she won't declare it in job applications either.

I can just imagine an interviewer being dubious about someone with MH fitting in with other office staff/activities, oh will they need a lot of support etc.

I agree with you OP. It's all very well virtue-signalling on paper or internet but we all know MH = you may as well be invisible out there and won't be considered for many job roles.

@Graphista Apology accepted. Assumptions are often wrong whether of not you have an illness or have experienced discrimination, aren’t they?

Would depend on the MH problem, anxiety probably not because of the people I know with it they cause more problems than they’re worth. For example a paramedic who can’t drive an ambulance because they don’t want to be looked at. However, a proven work history without loads of time off and I would. A frank conversation about what is expected prior to hiring them would be required though.

How do they know it’s a diagnosed condition? When I interview, that’s not information that I’m provided with. I’ve been turned down for jobs before due to shit performance at interviews/assessment centres caused by nerves. I don’t have social anxiety I’m just totally shit at interviews. I don’t doubt discrimination against MH issues happens, but it doesn’t feel like you can say for sure that’s what’s going on here.

Well yes. Equally I wouldn’t want to pay for skills that won’t be used. Obviously social anxiety would make most jobs difficult but there are quite a few where it would have little to no effect.

I totally get that, if someone can't do the job, surely they wouldn't apply?
I’ve been qualified and capable of doing all the jobs I applied for. I still didn’t get them. Not because of lack of ability - just because I’m not an attractive smiley chatty person to sit next to for lunch every day. And unsurprisingly companies don’t want clients to see them represented by an overweight middle aged woman with chipped teeth.

I wasn't apologising! I had no need to

You made that comment in the context of mental illness. I took it that you were referring to people with a mh DX or with a mh condition that wasn't DX

But that's contrary to what she actually wrote.

@Graphista - Apologies I phrased it badly. I mean that benefits should be in place for people with serious mental health issues that can't work even if they wanted to because of their condition. I.e Benefits should be for the most vulnerable in society.

@AriadneesWeb

Ok, that comment was in response to another comment. The poster was saying some jobs cannot be done by some people due to their disability. I was merely saying it is unlikely, for example someone in a wheelchair would apply for a manual handling role. Do you disagree that people generally apply for jobs they are experienced in/qualified in or at least able to do with further training?

If you are an employer and would like to support anyone with a mental health issue to perform to their full potential Mind run fantastic in house or external training and can provide relevant literature and workshops. Check the website.
There is also information on managing problems with anxiety and stress.

AriadneesWeb - you're coming across as a bit petulant and self-pitying, which are qualities that are going to put an employer off. While there are plenty of places who will take on pretty much anyone who is willing and capable, and a fair few who are looking for specific, hard-to-come-by skills and will overlook poor health, dodgy references and even being an obvious nightmare personality as long as the person can do the Necessary Thing, employers generally want someone who is both competent and unlikely to piss off the rest of the existing staff.

You say you can't get a job because you are 'not likeable' - how much work have you put in to learning to at least act likeable long enough to be hired? You don't have to be leaping about and telling jokes all the time, but it's not unreasonable for an employer to expect you to be civil to your colleagues and cope with a few sentences of small talk now and again. You might be giving the impression that, if hired, you will complain all the time and make the workplace atmosphere unpleasant: even if you are not interested in socialising with your work colleagues, it's possible to learn enough in the way of good manners to 'pass'.

AriadneesWeb - you're coming across as a bit petulant and self-pitying, which are qualities that are going to put an employer off
Maybe that’s my personality. Which just proves my point that qualifications and ability to do the job aren’t enough if your personality isn’t very nice or you don’t come across well.

employers generally want someone who is both competent and unlikely to piss off the rest of the existing staff
Unpleasant people who piss others off still need to work for a living and pay bills.

I have employed people with very serious mental health issues.

If I felt they were the best candidate and that I could support them in their role then why not?

Please don't think every employer is narrow minded and that it's all pointless

Some industries positively want people who have ASD (if you count that as a MH condition).

Unpleasant people who piss others off still need to work for a living and pay bills.

then they should either stick with jobs with no human contacts - or where grumpiness is requested
or act like the rest of the world and try to act civilised and pleasantly to fit in the team and get their pay check.

Not many people are bouncing around to go to work and are best mate with their colleagues, they are adult enough to have behave in a professional manner.

You need to be outstanding in your work to be able to get away with an unpleasant behaviour. I can think of a few people who are - but they bring so much to the business that they can be as unpleasant as they want. Or they own the place.

Unpleasant people who piss others off still need to work for a living and pay bills.

If you are a good professional and have a good professional attitude, you don't have to be friends with everyone but you shouldn't piss off others.

I've been on recruiting panels and we didn't go for the most likeable personalities. But we tend to skip any confrontational candidates.

It may be different if there's the boss and one employee in the office, but some employers may prefer quiet people who keep to themselves.