If depression goes on my medical record will it affect my chances of future employment?

Question

I'm 19 and have depression. Have been seeing a counsellor for the past 5 weeks but don't really feel that there has been that it has had much of an effect, if any. Have considered seeing my GP and taking antidepressants, but want to become a psychologist and so am petrified that if depression goes onto my medical record then I won't be as attractive from an employer's perspective. Is there any way that I can avoid depression being put onto my medical record? (Am a UK resident.)

Also as a side note:
-Are there any forms of antidepressants that DON'T cause bloating? - my self image is already a big enough issue for me as it is.

Thanks.

Thanks for all of the quick answers :) Ok, so maybe employers could not access my medical record, but I wouldn't lie on application forms. Maybe the better question is - What would being officially diagnosed affect?

Answer 1

I have suffered from depression for most of my adult life Im now 41.Although Depression is an illness it still holds a stigma with society. Im afraid it would go against you although legally it shouldnt.I always lie on application forms, its personal and I dont want to disclose such details thats my choice. Iam not embarrassed about my condition it is just very misunderstood unless youve experienced it 1st hand.
Try yoga, excercise, music,counselling takes time but can help. Read a good book on depression and only as alast resort takes tablets!!! Iwish you all the best in conquering depression...it will make you a stronger, better person believe me...it rakes time but u can come through it .xx

Answer 2

I am 57, male, married, kids, the whole lot. I work in care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, you name it. They all ask you on their forms what you have suffered from, and I have always been honest, I have been on sleeping pills and antidepressants since I was eight. (DON'T question it!). They are fine, they just need to know. I have never been turned down for a job because of it. They ask this question now in much the same way as they would ask 'Do you have diabetes?' There is nothing like the stigma that there used to be. So BE HONEST.
I do feel for you, I really do, but please try to think of your depression as an 'ailment', it's not worse than anything else. When I was your age, the one answer was to go into hospital, have ECT twice a week for 6 weeks, take drugs, etc and get splitting headaches, and maybe a few months later go through it all again ... You are too young to be suffering this way, but I've been there, if that is any consolation. You can email me if you would like to, but I know that communication with other people is one of the first things that seems impossible.

Answer 3

No, but as to the people who think employers can't get into your medical records, think again. This happened to me. Just talk to your doctor and tell him your concerns and he can be careful what he writes. Don't worry about depression on your records. It doesn't have the stigma it use to have at all. There is no shame in having depression. I believe it will make you a much better psychologist for having gone through it. Sorry. Please don't ignore it out of fear. Depression is easily fixed when caught early.

Answer 4

No one is allowed to access your medical records without your express permission. Many job application forms ask for your medical history but it is up to you what you choose to put down. Discretion is on your side, obviously if you had a dodgy back you would not lie about it if the job entailed lifting but then you would not apply for the job anyway, it is all relative. All this aside, the fact that you have suffered from depression means you may bring added experience to your chosen profession, there is no shame in having an illness but it is your choice whether to declare it or not. On the subject matter, I am anti medication of all kinds, don't know why lol, but when I became a sufferer as you have, those who cared about me begged me to seek help in this way. Eventually I took their advice and it helped me profoundly. After a relatively short time I weaned myself off medication and had myself back again. I felt honour bound to disclose it in two job applications though I needn't have done, partly out of the same fear you have, and I got both jobs! As a footnote, my medication did not cause bloating or increase my appetite, I am unaware of any anti-depressant medication that does this.

Answer 5

Ask your G.P many take the same line as you, and try to avoid mentioning the word depression - but I think that the the problem isnt in your medical records but the form that you have to sign to say whether you have had any ill health of any kind and you have to decide whether to be honest or fudge.

We have the same problem with driving licence applications.

I must say that most professionals will tell you that it doesn't make any difference and they really believe what they are saying but it does matter. Stigma is alive and well.

It is mostly the heavy duty antidepressents like largactyl that casue weight gain and bloating. Although we all react differently. I take amytriptiline and don't bloat.

Answer 6

I do believe that discrimination for a mental illness is illegal. But you've only given the counseling a month, give or take. Counseling and therapy are long processes, you can't just say that it's not working after only a month, and start taking meds. Medication should be a last resort type of thing, in my opinion, not a back-up because counseling is taking to long. Perhaps you are not seeing a difference, but your counselor may be. Just a thought. But discriminating against you for having a mental illness is illegal, but it really comes down to who is hiring you, because they could claim they didn't hire you because you weren't what they were looking for, but really that medical history could be the reason. Then again, none of my employers have ever asked for a medical history, I think that's illegal too, but I'm not sure.

Answer 7

No employer has acess to your medical records. You may get asked on an application form but it is your decision whether you disclose this information. The only medical information you need to pass on is if you have a disability that affects your job and you need special equipment etc. i.e wheelchair access.
I am doing a qualification in counselling and I have aspergers (autism) as well as depression and I have also spent time in prison, but I am not letting that get in the way of my progress as I want to help those who have been through what i have.

check out my website at www.livingwithaspergers.co.uk

Answer 8

How would a potential employer get a hold of your medical record without you knowing about it?

Lot's of people suffer from depression. You should look up some stats. It's alarming...

I take welbutrin(sp?) for smoking and depression. No bloating here...

Answer 9

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 10

It shouldn't bother your employment at all. Don't listen to the one person that said that you are 19 and should be able to just shake it. YOU CANNOT SHAKE DEPRESSION. This person evidently has NO CLUE what depression is and how it makes you feel. I was 12 when I was diagnosed and was not able to "shake it." If you need antidepressants then you need it. If talking about it isn't helping which it also didn't help me as well, then you need antidepressants.