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Mental Health getting a job

Akoto

Akoto

Bluelighter
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
3,208
Location
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Should I tell my potential employer about my mental illness? I would rather not tell them before I got the job. Could they fire me if they found out later? I live in Ontario.
 
I don't know about Ontario, but here in the states, it's absolutely no one's business to know (if they're an employer).
 
I think the one exception is when a company specifically seeks people who have a mental illness to work a certain type of job. A shipyard my dad worked at was hiring people with mental illnesses. I waited nearly two years for the chance to get an interview... then they hired someone else.
 
What type of mental illness if you don't mind saying?
I would probably tell them about any meds once you're hired though which may end up with you admitting to your illness in the end. Although technically it's a disability and they get a tax break so it's actually a benefit to them.
I told my bosses about my meds because sometimes during adjustment periods I'm a little off my game and I don't want them to think I just suck at my job or even worse that I'm doing illegal drugs.
Also them knowing about your illness can explain symptoms that might otherwise make them assume something that isn't true, like my example where I was worried my medication might maker hem think I was showing up high. I'm bipolar and once they knew that, I think they understood certain reactions and mood swings better and knew how to best approach me.
So if you don't do it when you interview, I really suggest doing it when you're hired.
 
It's schizophrenia and so far I've found that people pretty much always change the way they look at you when they know you have that disease.
 
Mmp85 said:
What type of mental illness if you don't mind saying?
I would probably tell them about any meds once you're hired though which may end up with you admitting to your illness in the end. Although technically it's a disability and they get a tax break so it's actually a benefit to them.
I told my bosses about my meds because sometimes during adjustment periods I'm a little off my game and I don't want them to think I just suck at my job or even worse that I'm doing illegal drugs.
Also them knowing about your illness can explain symptoms that might otherwise make them assume something that isn't true, like my example where I was worried my medication might maker hem think I was showing up high. I'm bipolar and once they knew that, I think they understood certain reactions and mood swings better and knew how to best approach me.
So if you don't do it when you interview, I really suggest doing it when you're hired.
Click to expand...
I was going to mention something along those lines. Probably the reason I got fired from my last job.
Akoto said:
It's schizophrenia and so far I've found that people pretty much always change the way they look at you when they know you have that disease.
Click to expand...
I worry about this too. And I've dealt with it, mostly in mental hospitals. Staff there will treat a person with a mental illness as if it's mental retardation. I never understood why. I'd much like to take some of those creatures, lock them in cages and study their behavior.
 
I would stick to mentioning the meds in that case once you're hired.
Just give them a list for your file where they keep emergency contacts, etc.
 
I personally wouldn't mention it. Schizophrenia still has a really bag stigma associated with it. A lot of the people I talk to don't know there are different types either. They just always picture the paranoid Ted Bundy type, and act accordingly. Some people are more understanding than others, though. My work is really nice to people who have any sort of disability. It depends how high functioning you are, too. It's really a gamble in my opinion
 
I would stray away from telling your employer anything that may jeopardize you from being hired. Wait until you start the job and if you get results there really isn't a need to tell your employer, especially if you have doubts about it. Frankly, why should he or she care anyway? If you have a job and you do it well I don't see any issues. Don't give a reason for them to ask you and you won't have to tell.

My most neutral advice: Double check the legalities/research, compare pros/con for both outcomes, make a confident decision.
 
In the states I wouldn't tell them though technically denying employment or a firing for that reason would be illegal. In my experience they will just find a reason to fire you.
 
Akoto said:
Should I tell my potential employer about my mental illness? I would rather not tell them before I got the job. Could they fire me if they found out later? I live in Ontario.
Click to expand...

I also suffer from schizophrenia and only do crappy part time jobs so i never mention my mental illness at the interview stage but once i have done a few shift's i explain to my new employer i need to take medication to keep me emotionally stable and help me sleep. All my employers have been cool with this and i actually had a psychotic episode back in June last year and my boss was cool with me taking a few weeks off to get stable in hospital. As i said i only do crappy part time hospitality jobs and people come and go in these jobs but i'm more reliable than most of the fully functioning workers and seeing as i had done a good 2-3 years solid work before i needed time off my boss was quite supportive.

You never know Akoto IME a lot of employers can handle having a schizo on they're books if you take your medication and are a loyal employee.
 
Its really a shame that you have to worry about this Akoto. For whatever its worth I never would have known that you had any mental illness by the way you post. I bet you will be a fine employee wherever you decide to work.
 
I agree you will do well at whatever you want i have schizoaffective disorder and its been hard for me finding work as i mention it in my applications im working now with my boyfriend but when he moves on as he wants to i will have to find work and its kind of daunting because i have to take a day off every month to check my blood count i take clozaphine and its protocol.... good luck and all the best darlin
 
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