[lenjan]

Simple question: Do you or don't you tell your employer about your mental health issues?

I have always erred on the side of telling, both because I prefer to be forthright in all matters and because it will score me sympathy points if I start screwing up.

However, I've been at this job a month and for some reason I am not so eager to fess up this time. Unfortunately, I needed to be inpatient weeks ago, and I don't think I'm going to be able to hold out much longer. I have a 3-day weekend coming up and that would seem to be an ideal time to start to get medicated, because right now I am not going to last another 7 days till I can see the stupid pdoc. I just don't know how to go about this, or if I should even bother, and just try to wait out the week I have left.

Ideas or suggestions welcome, please and thank you, as my mom says

Candy

candy i sympathise with your dilema, i would NOT tell them, yet, but i would take the meds and muddle threw until i could see the pdoc,
if things get to the stage where you feel you have to tell the employer about your illness keep it short and sweet, dont tell them everything,
my suggestion would be to say you have always had a bad time at xmas/new years and this is not new to you and will blow over

[Boopers]

Candbear,

If it were me, I wouldn't tell. I would keep it to myself as long as I could. I doubt it would benefit you at all if you told and it may make them start really watching you as they may feel they won't be able to totally trust you.
It's sad, but most employers don't really care about their employees health. All they care about is that you get the job done.
Try and hold out until you can see your pdoc or try and start taking your meds as soon as possible.
I do hope everything will turn out OK for you.
Take care,
Linda

[Zen888]

Hi Candybear

My pdoc said that if I am a-symptomatic (no symptoms of my disorder that are affecting me) then I dont have to tell anyone. Also the pdoc said my health is no ones business.

Take Care

[JustAPixie]

If it doesn't affect my work too much then I wouldn't tell either... I'd wait until the first catastrophe to fess up...

[Zen888]

Candybear

I'd also strongly recommend that you talk to your pdoc or family doctor about your concerns about telling your employer(s). The pdoc or family doc would be the best ppl to decide if you are obligated to tell about your condition or disorder.

(((((candybear)))))

[PlanningtoLive]

Candy, I told mine and even sent him links to bipolar and borderline personality......and all it accomplished was him asking me all the time how I am. I think if I messed up in some way it would be okay, but right now all he does is continually ask how I'm doing.

It's up to you, of course, but if you're that bad, you might want to say something. Try to hang on as long as possible though before you say a thing.

[EJ711]

NO.

Don't tell. They can use it against you, and I think it puts your job at risk.

EJ

[biiv]

Hey Candybear,
I dont know if you ve already decided this for yourself but, like the others, i would also say dont tell. if you have to give some reason for your behaviour or whatever see if you cant just say you have some health problems that you are dealing with and leave it at that. it really is no ones business but yours.
how are you doing by now? i hope you are still hanging in there.
hugs if you would like them. ((((candybear))))
take care,
biiv

[silver_queen]

I also think you shouldn't tell. People can have such prejudices against mental illness, and even if they're enlightened, it still might not stop them wondering about your efficiency there. If you do need to tell them, it might be better to wait until you've got to know them better before you start telling anybody, though if people are beginning to question you, I think Mellors gives a good suggestion about you being able to say that you have difficulties in the New Year period. If you think they're considering firing you though, then perhaps you should tell them, because perhaps they might give you some leeway, or just fire you earlier

I wouldn't tell. Most people are not well-educated about mental illness & will fear that you will get violent or something. I had to tell a co-worker when I was starting on Geodon (which totally knocked me out), because I had to go home. I was in danger of falling asleep at work & did fall asleep while driving on the way home. Needless to say, I got off the Geodon real quick. Now, I think it would have been better to say that I was on a new medication that has been affecting me badly & not tell her what it was for (bp). I don't think she has told anyone & she doesn't treat me any differently, thank goodness.

In Aug. I overdosed & my husband took me to the ER & one of my co-workers is also a nurse who works in the ER. She didn't handle my case (as far as I know--I blacked out), but when I was leaving the ER she did acknowledge me & when I next saw her at work, she asked if I was feeling better.

In the US a boss can't fire you just because she/he is aware of your mental illness. Mentall illness is covered under the disability act & your boss needs to make reasonable adjustments to your job so that you can function & do your work (I think this only applies to companies that have 50 or more employees.). If you can't do the job with the "reasonable" accomodations, he/she can let you go. If you have a problem check with NAMI. They should be able to help you contact a lawyer who can help you with this, if it comes to your being fired.--Suzy

[sorrel]

Mine know and are very supportive. I have 'reasonable accommodations' because the nature of my illness comes under the disability discrimination act in the UK, and legally they have to take it into account. But it is more than just the legal thing, as they really do care.

I gave this to my managers (its from the Mind site, which is excellent by the way) and it helped them too.

http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/B...orkinglife.htm