</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
drunksunflower said:
I have fairly comprehensive health insurance through work, but I would *never* claim anything to do with depression or anything through that policy - too risky (and some policies don't fully cover any medical conditions like depression or PTSD).

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

You're right that treatment for depression and other MI's really ding you when you apply for private insurance. I've taken the hit on that a number of times. However, it is a huge risk to take to lie about medical history to your insurance company. If you ever had a big claim, the insurance company is going to comb through your personal life and if they find any evidence that you lied, then your coverage evaporates because you breached the contract. I wouldn't take that risk, but I also feel an ethical obligation to be truthful.

The other thing is that we will never combat the stigma of mental illnesses if we deny our own experience. I WANT insurance companies to know that they are better off having us be truthful and get treatment, than to NOT get treatment or lie about it because we get penalized. At the risk of sounding like an activist, I believe that worldwide outreach and reform is badly needed regarding mental health treatment. We just had another "postal" situation here in the US a few months ago. If people were encouraged and supported in getting the treatment they need, then the world would be a much better place.

I'll get off my soapbox in a second, but I would also like to say that I am very well-respected in my field and am considered to be successful by most standards. However, I freely admit that I go to therapy and advocate therapy for ALL adults, whether or not they have a problem. Now that I'm starting meds, I will freely admit that as well. I want to set an example of how it can be "okay" for people to seek therapy and make themselves the best person they can be. The stigma is ridiculous in this day and age, and I'm doing my part to dispel it.