People with mental health issues 'fear job applications'

9th February 2009

The difficulties in gaining employment faced by people with mental health issues have been highlighted.

Writing for the Guardian, Clare Allen expressed her sympathy for individuals who must fill in the health sections on job application forms and fear telling the truth about their past problems.

She cited a current court case that is underway between Cheltenham borough council and its former managing director Christine Laird.

The council has alleged that Ms Laird failed to disclose bouts of depression she had previously experienced on her application form.

Ms Allen described the case as "extremely unpleasant" and noted government figures that show 40 per cent of employers would not consider hiring someone with a history of mental health issues.

She claimed that people with these problems live with "the constant fear of revelation, being dismissed or even taken to court".

Recently, research carried out by the Indigo study group and published in Lancet found that 29 per cent of people with schizophrenia have difficulties in keeping a job.