New employment rights for mentally ill

New employment rights for mentally ill

By Liz Lockhart

The current laws which surround the employment rights of the mentally ill are outdated and in many cases outrageous.

Did you know that currently, past mental health problems can result in removal from the posts of school governors, company directors, MPs and jurors?  People who have made a full recovery from mental ill health can be dismissed even though they no longer suffer from any illness.  Minor mental health conditions such as bouts of depression are enough to remove someone from office.

People selected for jury service are asked to put a tick in a box if they have ever suffered from mental health problems.  If the box is ticked it automatically results in being barred.

A new Bill which outlaws the discrimination of people suffering from mental health problems in the workplace has been backed by ministers.

Lord Stevenson, a crossbench peer, has described this as the ‘last significant form of discrimination in law in our society.’  Lord Stevenson has suffered from depression.  He introduced this Bill to outlaw the ‘disgraceful’ practice which has won Government support.

During the Second Reading of the Lord Stevenson’s Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill, Government Whip Lord Wallace told peers that the proposed law was supported by ministers.

Earlier this year the Coalition set out its own strategy called ‘No Health Without Mental Health’.  This outlines a promise to combat ‘stigma and discrimination’ against those suffering from mental health problems.

‘The Government supports the Bill.  A number of the provisions put forward demonstrate a shared purpose with the objectives of the Government,’ said Lord Wallace.

‘Shifting public behaviour and attitudes require a major and substantial social movement,’ Wallace added. 

Labour peer Lord Collins said that it would not only end the legalised discrimination faced by mental health patients but would also contribute towards combating ‘the prejudicial view that having had a mental illness makes you incapable of being a citizen’.