Not good enough - as is

So, throughout a few healthcare careers, I discovered that you really cannot suffer any kind of mental or emotional condition and be treated fairly.

Once I disclosed my low grade depression to a couple of people, well, that was it. Soon I was considered unstable and treated like I had some contagious disease.

Despite being highly treatable (and usually resolves within months) I still was avoided or asked, 'How ARE you?' in a patronizing way.

Intro photo source: Mitya Kuznetsov on flickr see here. / Licensed under Creative Commons

Depression (or dysthymia - what I have, a low grade depression) is considered by mental health professionals as 'the common cold of mental illness.' In fact, some studies indicate that those with these conditions are actually more in tune with reality than the majority of the participants studied. Are depressed people just way too realistic? (One in four people will experience a depressive episode at least once in their life). The most common age range for depression is within the working career of a person; although it is being diagnosed more often in younger people, within the last decade. The very young and very old seem to be the least likely to exhibit signs of depression.

If statistics are anything to count on, then we all know someone who has dealt with this issue. The questions I want to raise to employers and people given the power to make decisions for others is this: are we going to discriminate against someone on the basis that they suffered a depressive episode? Is this stigma still around? Did you know it is against the law to discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability?

Since the time I admitted I was on medication for depression, my family and others have often pointed a finger at me as 'the one with the problem.' Somehow, even with very high grades in school, glowing performance appraisals and letters of recommendation...I still cannot seem to be considered for a job in some small circles of healthcare. I am labelled as 'damaged goods' now. Sure, I am sad. The person I am, the hard worker I am, is just not good enough, as is.

Strange, eh? What gives? Has anyone else come across this out there? How about taking a poll here for fresh data (and points for all of you fellow Squidoo lensmasters)?

This was created on November 30th, 2010. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010 sousababy
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