Discrimination at Work

As I have become more honest about my mental health in society as a whole, I am experiencing a variety of responses. One thing I've found that others are particularly challenged by is when I talk about my lived experience. Sometimes it is greeted with curiosity, and sometimes it is greeted with an awkward pause that possibly indicates someone's uncomfortableness with the subject matter. I experienced this at work recently and would like to explore here how even the smallest indiscretions can identify a lack of understanding or a discriminatory standpoint. Why this person decided to exhibit their displeasure with my lived experience, I will never know, but what I do know is this action of uncomfortableness is a way of 'othering' me, which can't be ignored. It is a challenge in the workplace to be one hundred percent transparent about your lived experience and be accepted as well enough to work. The concept of well enough to work in itself could be viewed as discriminatory. The Equality Act 2010 is the law that protects you from discrimination. It also gives you the right to challenge discrimination.

You're protected by the Equality Act if you have certain protected characteristics. Disability is one of these protected characteristics. Mental health problems may be considered a disability. I advocate for individuals who are having a mental health no matter what the diagnosis to be more open and honest in the work environment so that discrimination is gradually reduced and removed.