Only one in three people with a past history of mental ill health feels confident about disclosing this information on job application forms, the Mental Health Foundation revealed.

But, in a survey of 400 people with experience of mental health problems, the charity found that many of those who “come out” once employed are “pleasantly surprised” with the support they receive from bosses and colleagues.

Nine out of ten of those currently working had told somebody at work about their experience of mental health problems, according to the report published to mark Mental Health Action Week.

And over half reported that they “always or often” had support when they needed it, while 20 per cent said they “sometimes” received support.

About two out of three said that people at work were “always or often accepting towards them”.

However, only a minority of people with mental health problems are employed and less than 50 per cent of those surveyed who had psychosis, schizophrenia or manic depression held down jobs.

People with anxiety or depression were more likely to be employed but, even so, less than 60 per cent were employed on a full-time or even a part-time basis.

And the report also paints a gloomy picture of pressures at work causing or exacerbating mental health problems, with two out of three saying that an unrealistic workload, high expectations or long hours contributed significantly to their difficulties.

Meanwhile, one in three believed that their mental health had worsened due to bullying at work.

Debbie Southwood, who has Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and works for the mental health charity Mind in Brighton and Hove, explained to Health Media that she has experienced both good and bad practice in the workplace.

“Work can be a cruel place and, in the pharmaceutical company that I used to work for, the attitude was very much ‘pull yourself together’,” she says.

“However, at Mind I use a light-box at work in the autumn and winter and have a very supportive employer. I took two weeks off sick last year and my employer called me every day to let me know what was going on at work. I am also able to take on my most challenging projects during the summer when I am unaffected by SAD.

“With the right support, people with mental health problems can succeed at work and enjoy their working environment,” says Ms Southwood.

Ruth Lesirge, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, says, “People with mental health problems make a considerable contribution in terms of voluntary or unpaid work. In order that employers don’t overlook a valuable resource, it is essential that they focus on people’s experience rather than their diagnosis.”

The Foundation believes that employers need to do more to accommodate people with mental health problems and says that employees should be given time off for counselling and psychotherapy in the same way that they are for antenatal appointments.

Source: Mental Health Foundation

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