How to handle this recruiter question?

[rainyday123]

Hi

Hope you are well.Need some advice please.

I was diagnosed with mental health issues and that qualified as disability as defined in the Equality act.As I understand, the equality act covers disabled people in the future in case the issues re-occur.
I have improved brilliantly - thanks to my medication and looking for a new job now.

My questions

a) In my future employment career, should I refer to myself as disabled or non-disabled. If my medication is taken away it might push me back to where I was.
In this context I would think "disabled"?

b) I have been looking for jobs. Its normal for recruiters to ask "Why did you leave your last role or why did your employment end"
I am having bad experiences when I let them know about the past mental health issues.

I don't want to hide my past and would be more than okay to discuss this in an interview. But I don't want to be telling every recruiter and frankly they don't need to know so much detail.
I am not very clear as to how to put a positive angle on this one and say that I am fit to work. Any advise on how to word this?

Bo easy answers but how I would play it is

A) declare it once you’re employed so you are protected. If you declare before they can (and some will) discrimate but find some other ‘reason’ why.

B) to take a career break and care for your child (presumably technically true)

Sorry I misread it as postnatal depression.

Career break with some kind of explanation still works.

On b) I would say for health reasons, but that I have thankfully made a full recovery.

If pressed, say it is personal and you'd prefer not to go into details.

Apparently you don’t need to explain a career break. I think just say as the pp suggests you left to spend time with your young family or you had to leave the job for some family reasons. No need to say any more. And as pp says don’t mention disabled at interview. You’re not anyway, you’re well! Well done you.

You are not disabled, you have had MH issues which are now well controlled and your medication isn't likely to be taken away?

Do you want to practice a few responses to those questions with us and get some feedback? It’s all about saying it confidently and giving just the amount of information you are comfortable with.
Whether to class yourself as disabled- I’ve struggled with this one for MH reasons too. These days I happily tick no because there is no impact on my day to day functioning any more than any other person. But in the past - maybe. Ie to say that I would need adjustments maybe if speaking to a group of new people, or to focus in a noisy environment. Sadly there is still a lot of discrimination so it would also depend on the employer - how positive do they seem about disability and MH? I’d be inclined to not mention until the pre employment health questionnaire.
But if you can tell us more about your stage of recovery, impact of your MH day to day, and sort of jobs you are looking for then maybe we can be more specific with advice. Good luck!

I am Autistic and have long term health problems. I was diagnosed as an adult so I find it difficult to see myself as “disabled”…so I say I “have a disability”. I feel like it’s different!

If you have a long term MH condition that affects your day to day life for over a year then it counts as a disability according to gov.uk. So yes, tick the box about your disability, for many employers this means if you meet essential criteria you will be guaranteed an interview. I would agree with pp, I would refer to “health issues” that are now resolved or managed.
I’ve tried different approaches but with my current employer I went in totally up front. I explained about my disability and health problems. I said it would take me a while to settle in but with the right support I’d be okay. I’m also very honest when I’m struggling and assertive about asking for adjustments where I need them. It’s really helped me feel more settled at work.