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Mental Health


Overview (Introduction):

What is a mental health problem? There can be many kinds of mental distress that people experience and no two people are affected in an identical way. But the most common problems are: depression; anxiety; panic attacks; obsessive-compulsive disorder; phobias; manic depression; and schizophrenia.

Research by the Mental Health Foundation suggests that mental health problems among university students have increased in recent years.

Although it is important to view your mental health difficulties in the context of your own individual needs, skills and abilities, it can be difficult to know how to deal with this issue when looking for employment. Should you explain your difficulties when applying for jobs? Or at an interview? Or not at all? What if you had to take a year out from university to deal with mental illness? Does this need to be disclosed?

The following sections will explore the personal and legal issues surrounding these questions.

Marketing yourself

Irrespective of your background, there are a number of general points to remember when marketing your skills and personal attributes to an employer, so make sure you read information produced by your careers service and on www.prospects.ac.uk

If you are concerned about how your mental health difficulties could be perceived, be proactive in trying to convince employers of your ability by:

  • Focusing on what you have done, not what you have not.
  • Using positive words and statements to describe yourself and your activities. For example, if you mention time out because of ill health you could also state the positive outcomes of this time in your life. Perhaps it gave you time to reassess your goals, become more self aware, or participate in voluntary activities.
  • Talking about recent achievements, such as work experience or completion of a course, to show your skills, aptitude and potential. Employers are generally more interested in what you have done most recently, rather than years ago. If you feel that you are lacking in current work experience, speak to a careers adviser about building on this experience, which will help your confidence as well as develop your skills and boost your CV.

Disclosure

There are no definitive answers as to how and when to disclose mental health issues to a prospective employer. It is a personal choice and each individual needs to make their own decisions about the information they reveal. However, being aware of the legal framework should make things clearer, as should talking to a careers adviser who can assist you in presenting yourself in a way that feels right.

Employers should only be interested in the facts about your life that are relevant to the job, so there is often no need to discuss your health in great detail. If you do disclose health problems try to provide an affirmative statement about your capabilities. For example: ‘I have suffered from clinical depression, but my recent achievements show that I have the relevant skills and experiences for this job’.

Understanding the law:

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 made it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against people with disabilities when applying for a job or within employment. It is an encouraging next step that an amendment to the DDA, which will become legislation from December 2005, puts greater emphasis on mental health problems.

According to the act, mental health difficulties are defined as an ‘impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect’ on a person’s ability ‘to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Recent additions to the act have removed the requirements that mental illnesses be ‘clinically well-recognised’.

This considerably widens the legal scope of what a mental health difficulty is.

Since coming into effect in September 2003, part four of the DDA places specific obligations on educational establishments to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ according to the needs of individual students with disabilities. It is likely that in the future students with a wider range of mental health difficulties will be able to use the DDA as an additional supportive framework to ensure equality of opportunity.

The Employment Rights Act 2002

It is very important to consider this legal framework when making decisions about what information you give to an employer:

  • If you are not asked about your mental health problems when applying for work then you are not obliged by law to disclose it;
  • If you are specifically asked about your health, or about a gap in your employment history, and you do not disclose then you can be dismissed for deliberately withholding information;
  • If no questions are asked and you don’t disclose mental health problems, the employer could dismiss you with appropriate notice if difficulties occur within a one year period.

Employers can claim that a person is unsuitable for a particular job due to their mental health difficulties. However, a person with mental health problems who applies for a job has the same rights a person with disabilities. So, it is possible to take an employer to an industrial tribunal for being discriminatory. In an industrial tribunal you would need to provide evidence that your mental health problems are not incompatible with that particular job. It is important to remember that it is up to the employer to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ according to the needs of individuals. For example, an employer might allow someone on medication, who found it difficult to concentrate in the mornings, to start work later and finish later in the day.

Remember that prejudice is often due to ignorance. You may find that being positive about your capabilities is more likely to convince employers of your suitability for a position, than the threat legal action.

Mental Health Act

At the time of writing (July 05) a Draft Mental Health Bill is being debated in parliament, which will be an amendment to the 1983 Mental Health Act. As with other draft bills, it is at the point of pre-legislative scrutiny. Information about the current debate and a copy of the act when it has been approved can be accessed on key mental health websites, including Mental Health Wales and Rethink.

How can Career Development Services help?

Our services are open to any student or graduate of the University of Bradford, and you may be eligible to use us even if you're a graduate of another university - see our advice page for more information. We can arrange for you to speak confidentially to a Career Development Adviser about your own individual circumstances and the best way to positively market yourself to employers, as well as anything else careers-related that you need guidance with.

You can also use our Information Room, to access information on specific occupations and employers, travelling and working abroad, labour market information, volunteering, placements, jobseeking skills - anything 'careers-related' really! We also have a state of the art computer cluster (if you are a graduate you will need to bring photo ID in order for us to make you a password). There will always be a member of staff on hand to help you find the information you want.

In term-time we're open 9-5 Monday to Thursday and 9-4 on Fridays, and we're open 9-4 Monday to Friday during vacations. Our contact details are:

Top tips:

Prospects.ac.uk logo linking to the Handling Discrimination pagesProspects.ac.uk have the following 'top tips' from the 'Handling Discrimination' section of their website.

  • It is difficult to consider issues concerning work and career planning without looking at yourself as a whole person, including your mental health needs. Using a holistic approach and making use of guidance practitioners will help you through the process.
  • Undertaking work experience or voluntary work, whether alongside study or after your course, can help with the transition between study and employment. Recent work experience provides examples of relevant experience for your CV and, more importantly, can demonstrate fitness to work. Your careers service or local volunteering bureau should be able to direct you to organisations or contacts in the local area that help people find appropriate work experience.
  • Identifying your skills and abilities, and marketing these successfully, is crucial when applying for work. Sometimes, after a period of being unwell, it is more difficult to focus on the positive qualities you have. So, it is important to take time to reflect on what you have offer, what you enjoy doing and your hopes for the future. Again, seeking help from a careers adviser can assist in this process.

Sources of further information:


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