Mental Health Week 9th to 16th October 2016

[Paul]

Mental health week approaches.

It's a time of caring and awareness, a time of nurturing and being nurtured and a time to not be afraid to reach out for help. It takes courage to reach out and have that first conversation. Maybe mental health week is the time to consider what's stopping you from telling someone, or trying something new.

There is some amazing programming on TV during mental health week. Upsetting, hopeful and thought provoking.

Mental health week can be a week where we educate others in a gentle and loving way. There might be someone who doesn't quite understand that mental health isn't spotted by bandages or crutches or a surgical scar.

We love and we are loved, just like anyone else.

What will you do this mental health week?

Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Paul

Great post. I heard 3AW talkback discussing Mental Health week yesterday avo and their switchboard was jammed with people trying to get on the air. The main point the callers (with a mental illness) made was the stigma is very alive and well....and profit comes before their health no matter what they did for a living.

Not all, but unfortunately many companies (managers...CEO's...supervisors...directors etc) just dont get it.

I will be spreading the word as per usual. My postie asked me a few months ago why I was at home a lot...I actually summoned the strength and said 'I have depression and cant work at the moment' while opening my mail.

I have also posted a new thread under Welcome and Orientation about 4 hours ago to 'try' to make it easier for people who are hesitant about posting.

If a footy player tears a hamstring it makes the news....Oh dear....I think we have a long way to go...

Happy Thursday Paul

Paul (the other one) 😉

[Paul]

I like it Paul. I like that you weren't afraid to to just tell your postie how it is. I completely agree with you that a mental illness is seen as a financial burden to a company rather than someone who may have extreme talent and with some kind words and understanding bring dedication and value (read $$$$) to an organisation.

I think I was discriminated against recently. I went for a job interview and absolutely nailed it. I answered the technical questions better than they expected, they said they really liked me, the HR manager happened to grow up in the same town as I did. I was open with them. I was open that I have depression and anxiety and have had for 25 years. I explained how I am well controlled now and took a total of 1 1/2 sick days this year due to mental illness, but...

The job went to someone else. Someone cheaper and less talented. The job ad wanted someone with a degree and certifications I have neither and their comment was that they thought I would get bored.

If a company is going to do that to someone I would rather not work there anyway. I own my work and when it or I am undervalued for whatever reason they are no longer deserving.

I'm still deciding whether I will tell the next prospective employer now.

So, I can relate to your concerns Paul. I think we all can.

How do we change it? Do we all wear a bandage to work during mental health week and when people show empathy explain our mental illness really hurts. I think I might just do that. Like a broken wrist, my mental illness hurts just as much.

Paul x

[Paul]

So I think I will do that this year.

I will wear a bandage around my wrist. People will ask what happened to my arm, I'll correct them and say it's my wrist actually, they will ask what happened. I'll say that I have a mental illness, it hurts worse than a broken wrist and I wanted to engage people in being aware that just because usually there are no bandages or crutches or surgical wounds, people still suffer silently because there is a stigma. I'd then like to direct them to beyond blue and other resources to learn more. or even hand them a brochure. I will be mindful of being deceptive as that is not my aim. My aim is to start a conversation and have people realise that there doesn't need to be a physical device or cough or sneeze for someone to unwell.

Any thoughts?

[blondguy]

Hello Paul

I find it upsetting what happened to you after your job interview. We may have a strong constitution but you did everything right and were treated like an inconvenience/liability.

I think a bandage is a great idea. We maybe should have an armband in the BB Blue color placed around the bicep. Either way it is a another step up the ladder towards 'stopping the stigma'

An important and vital thread to assist awareness. Nice1 🙂

Paulx.

[Emmy.]

Paul it's so true about companies considering only the profits and not the mental health of staff. Two years ago my Mum passed very suddenly (only 62, wasn't ill, was fit and able) I was working in a high pressure job and I wasn't coping. I kept putting my hand up asking if I could take a step back from a managerial role. They just kept saying you're too good to for that. So I kept working and then it came to breaking point. I knew I was going to have a nervous breakdown if I didn't leave so my only option was to hand in my letter of resignation. My doctor said I was unfit for work and gave me a doctor certificate so I didn't have to finish my notice period (yes it was annoying for them but hey this was someone's health here). I remember my boss saying "it's only two more weeks, you'll be fine". So I kept working in the end I did have that breakdown and did leave early. But why did it have to come to that? Why when you put your hand up to say you're not coping that it goes unnoticed. Sorry if this doesn't make any sense but looking back its sad that there is that stigma still out in society. That people think that a simple remark such as "you'll be fine" or "pull yourself together" will magically make you ok. If only hey. Sorry hope it was ok to post this. Emmy xx

[blondguy]

Hi Emmy (excuse I for hijacking your thread Paul)

Your mum passed way too early Emmy....62...I have no words....that is and would have been awful Emmy....x

If can quote you on an another classic moment of greed from corporate Australia;

"Why when you put your hand up to say you're not coping that it goes
unnoticed. Sorry if this doesn't make any sense but looking back its
sad that there is that stigma still out in society. That people think
that a simple remark such as "you'll be fine" or "pull yourself
together" will magically make you ok"

Great post Emmy.....especially when over 60% of the hits to BB are people who choose to only read these posts (which is fine of course) Your post would have resonated and helped a heap of people that have been through what we have.

It breaks my heart and brings tears my eyes to read your post and see how you were treated after the passing of your mum....It should have never come to that Emmy....Shame on the management of the company you used to work for.....

Your post makes perfect sense Emmy.....

Your mum passed only 2 years ago...it may as well of been 2 days ago.....

(Hugs) if thats okay..

Paul xx

[MsPurple]

HI everyone (note as I type this everyones user name has changed to be my username, so I have to wing the names as I type)

Paul sorry you didn't get the job. I'm not sure if it is discrimination or not, however I think it is so unfair they gave you the excuse of 'you'll get bored'. You applied for the job and went to the interview, so you wanted the job, so for me, I feel like it is a cop out them saying you'll get bored. At least you don't have to work with people who potentially hired someone without a mental illness

Emmy I am so sorry to hear that your work didn't accomodate for you. I think they just care about profit and not their employees. I can't believe people in this day and age don't listen when we tell them what is happening and what we need. I'm glad you are not there with their attitude but I feel horrible that you had to level because of there ignorance.

other Paul I know when I was 20 I read the forums. I wanted to comment and ask for help, but I was so worried that someone would find out it was me and I would be discriminated against by friends, family or work. I know this sounds silly to some, but for me it took me till I was 24 to feel confident enough comment on here.

My mum had to leave her job due to disclosing her mental health to her boss. My mum has bipolar. He treated her different from then on, like she was less of a person. He roughly said 'All mentally ill people need to be kept in a box and controlled'. How wrong is that?! and to make it worse, at the time my mum was working at the local youth centre for people with drug, alcohol and mental health issues. Safe to say when I go back to my hometown and that organisation ask for donations I never donate (I even told them why I don't donate to them once). Note this was 10+ years ago and they have been taken over now but another better youth service

I have told some of my collegues at my most recent job I had GAD. I don't tell people during an interview if I have a mental illness. I sometimes disclose it if I am comfortable to do so at the job. I just got a job in health and they asked if I identified as having a disability and I ticked yes (they included mental health in this category) but it is confidential and is only used for there census and data.

In the end I think the stigma is decreasing but it still isn't close to what it should be and I think you should disclose your mental illness to work only if you feel comfortable doing so.

[blondguy]

Hey MsPurple

Self expression will never be an issue for you MsPurple (thats a huge compliment)

I do feel for your mum. 5 years ago I was sat down in a boardroom as a senior manager and told that they dont require my services anymore as they found out I couldnt go to crowded places (trade shows exhibitions etc)

I lost a yearly salary package of $150,000/year. They made it very clear that even if I declared my 'claustrophobia' they werent interested in "entertaining the thought of hiring someone that has any mental issues...

Congrats by the way on your new job too and dealing with the disability disclosure as well as you have 🙂

If memory serves MsPurple I mentioned a breath of fresh air on the forums....I am sure I was letting you know at the time you are....I really hope you can stick around. Whether posters have a community champion tag or not is irrelevant. Its pro-active people like you at 24 that have the courage to 'stop the stigma'

You have a sense of clarity that I used to have. I hope your mum is as proud of you as I am MsPurple.

My best to your mum too for dealing with the 'stigma'.....she is a legend 🙂

Paulx

[geoff]

hi Paul, what a great post and what everyone has said is just so true, profit for the shareholders or the employer that's what has to come first, there are no exceptions and if you're in my way to make a profit then you have to go, I don't care what happens to you when you leave just as long as you're not in my way, typical thinking for those that don't give a damn about you when you are suffering from depression, so greed has always been more important than mental health and I wonder whether this will ever change, unfortunately not at this point of time.
The awareness of mental disorders has come a long way, maybe only to those who are suffering, but for those who have not had depression then they don't want to know anything about it and even if one of their friends has depression, they don't particularly want to know and certainly not interested, but we're getting there but it's still at a slow pace.
Mental illness should be talked about in the early years of education, in the primary years, because oneof these children may have a parent who is self medicating, abusive, physically or emotionally or who may have attempted suicide so they need to be educated at an early age in life.
If this is done then the next generation will be much wiser so the topic will not be pushed under the covers. Geoff. x