Applying for jobs

Applying for a job with a mental health problem need not always be a negative experience.

Having lived with mental illness, you may have developed skills which will be valuable in your work role, such as

  • Problem solving
  • Ability to work with and relate to different sorts of people
  • Tenacity
  • Diplomacy
  • Creativity

Make use of your experiences in writing your CV and in interview. You do not have to refer to mental illness, just the skills that you have developed of a result of it.

The application form and interview

On most application forms there is a space for declaring if you have a disability. There are many pros and cons for deciding whether to tell you prospective employer that you have had or have mental health difficulties.

Pros

  • If you declare that you have a disability you may be automatically given an interview as many organisations are trying to increase the number of disabled people working for them.
  • If you disclose that you have a disability in that you have a mental illness you will be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) which means that it will be illegal for the prospective company to discriminate against you.
  • Disclosing you have a disability means that under the DDA the prospective company must make reasonable adjustments to enable you to do the job. This may mean additional supervision for someone with a mental health problem.
  • Admitting to having a mental health problem allows you to control how this is presented to your employer. For instance, you may have particularly strong interpersonal skills or problem solving skills if you have had mental health difficulties and you could tell them in this way.
  • Admitting the difficulties you've had and highlighting the ways you have overcome those difficulties shows maturity and determination. Employers may be impressed by these qualities.

Cons

  • Admitting if you have had or have a mental health problem can lead to unfair treatment when applying for a job. For instance, you may not be given an interview or may not be offered the job. While you are covered by the DDA, often it is hard to prove that this is because of your mental health problem instead of that you did not make the grade. You must be aware however, that if you are called to interview and you do not have an obvious physical problem you may be asked the nature of your disability.
  • You may feel that your mental health difficulties have no direct affect on your ability to do the job you've applied for and so do not want to declare it.
    You may be worried about the stigma associated with mental illness and how this might affect you in the workplace if your employees know about your mental health difficulties.
  • You should be aware when deciding whether to disclose that you have a mental health problem that many application forms ask specific questions about your health. If you give false information and your employer finds out then they would be in their rights to dismiss you.
  • Also, if your medical condition has any health and safety implications then you are legally obliged to tell your employer. For example, if you take medication that makes you drowsy it could be a health and safety hazard to you and others if you operate machinery.

If you choose to do so there are different ways of disclosing your mental illness to an employer. You may wish to tell them on the application form, or on a covering letter. Alternatively, you may wish to wait until the interview.

Try to put your difficulties in a positive light as to what you have gained and remembering why you think you can do this job regardless of your mental health difficulties.

Medical forms and examinations

Before you are given a contract most organisations will give you a medical form to fill out. The purpose of the medical examination is to ensure that you are well enough to do the job and to find out what support you need. If you declare your mental illness you will most likely to be required to undergo a medical examination.

The doctors involved in medical examinations tend to be GPs with little experience of mental illness. It may in this case be beneficial for you to take along a letter from your psychiatrist and provide this to the employers, explaining about your illness and your fitness to work.

If you still fail the medical examination you should ask for the full details of the examination and why you have not been accepted for the job. If however, you decide not to declare your mental illness you may be sacked should it come to light while you work for the organisation. This is a risk that must be weighed up against the risk of discrimination

Under the DDA, employers should be prepared to make adjustments for the employment of a disabled person. The reasoning that the organisation cannot support or supervise someone with mental health problems is unacceptable. If in doubt, contact the Disability Law Service .

They can provide you with the full details of the DDA and how it applies to employment as well as advise you if you have a case against the employer. Please contact Rethink’s National Advice Service for a factsheet on this if you would like more information.