How to stay positive while unemployed?

[franch]

A close relative has been made redundant and is about to be unemployed. He's finding it difficult being rejected for interviews etc, his confidence has taken a big knock and he's getting depressed. I know this will in turn make him less likely to get the next job. I know the best I can do is listen and be there, but if anyone has any tips for staying strong and positive it'd be great to pass them on.

He was bipolar but hasn't suffered for years, though this is always a worry.

am a bit too tired to think of anything useful but glad he has you to keep an eye on him

not sure bipolar ever completely 100% goes away, so hope he doesn't become depressed - do you think he would know if he did?

Thanks Mitchy. I'm not sure whether he'd know if he'd sunk into depression, but hopefully those of us around him would spot the signs if things were getting that bad again.

I suppose it could be a good opportunity for him to develop or build on his leisure interests, or maybe take up new ones that will throw him into contact with other people

in between the job applications and interviews, just to have something else to focus on and feel good about?

franch...my ex got made redundant last year for the 3rd time. He ahs always been a workaholic and was devastated each time....like ,why me ,i havent had a day off sick, in 10 years etc...and he brought in the big bucks for the company.

He was out of work for 8 months last year...which nearly brought him to his knees. He was made redundant on the very day he should have been getting his employment award for being with the company for 20 years and they happened to over look that too. I have to say....it has destroyed him as he is now 50 years old and noone seems to want to employ you at that age. He has spent so much time networking himself and applying for jobs. he has recently got one in telesales ,but it is on 1/3rd of his previous salary and he cant survive on it for much longer.he is desperate to get where he rightly belongs and i really feel for him.

My DH was unemployed for 4 months last year - slightly different though as he is a contractor - to fill in the time he eventually signed up for some additional professsional training, it was e xpensive but it made a huge difference to his self-esteem and I am sure it helped when he went for his next interview a couple of weeks later and was then offered a new contract.

Also, he is a governor at the local primary so went in and helped out 1-2 morning each week, this totally altered his perspective on teachers and how hard they work, it was also really appreciated by the teachers and the pupils to have a Dad in.

Thanks all. I'll see if I can persuade him to get involved in something.

Loads of sympathy to your ex alypaly