Where I live, it isn't a gp that diagnoses mental health issues, but the community mental health team.....and there we have another problem. Nhs services are a postcode lottery, and differ wildly depending where you live. Anything from dental care to fertility treatment can differ by a couple of years.
My local MP is firmly of the opinion that autistic people are better off in full time employment. Unfortunately he's not autistic and so doesn't have a clue what he's talking about....many of us have sensory difficulties that make life outside our home constant torture. Audio sensitivity, smell sensitivity, being in close proximity to other people....and it's hard for neurotypicals to grasp this. I'm extremely fortunate to have worked almost constantly since I was 19, sometimes at great personal cost in terms of mental health. I now wfh 2 days a week, with 1 day in the office. I can just about cope with this, but can't imagine working full time again. I'm not lazy, I've 2 disabled children to care for and I can't afford to be a burnt out wreck.
Hi Puds! Thanks again for reading my substack! The support for the disabled and long term sick who are able to work in a limited way is truly woeful. And there’s always this fear of your benefits being taken away because you’ll suddenly be declared ‘fit’! That’s why I think this recategorisation policy is going to cause more harm than good. What we need is for the existing assessment and support structures to be improved. I’m sure employers could benefit from getting more people to help them in a part time capacity (cheaper for them!) since most able bodied people obviously prefer full time work.
Hope so much you’re doing ok? Miss you on Twitter! xx
Twitter just got too much for me, I realised it was doing me more harm than good. I should have DMd you my number before I left, we could have kept in touch via WhatsApp.
I agree the current system needs an overhaul, a comprehensive rethink, and disabled people should be part of that process. I don't think that will happen. Also, it's complex, trying to create a system that's simple to administer but covers the huge spectrum of needs. It is a herculean task and I don't envy the poor souls tasked with it. They won't please anyone.
I'm doing the best I've been in years, good to read your posts xx
Great article! The genuinely disabled/sick really do miss out when their benefits are spread so thin and given to the reasonably healthy. I do believe there should be a UBI-like system of Universal Basic Services for everyone regardless of health status, but people who cannot work should receive an extra income supplement as they are unable to earn money through work.
Where I live, it isn't a gp that diagnoses mental health issues, but the community mental health team.....and there we have another problem. Nhs services are a postcode lottery, and differ wildly depending where you live. Anything from dental care to fertility treatment can differ by a couple of years.
My local MP is firmly of the opinion that autistic people are better off in full time employment. Unfortunately he's not autistic and so doesn't have a clue what he's talking about....many of us have sensory difficulties that make life outside our home constant torture. Audio sensitivity, smell sensitivity, being in close proximity to other people....and it's hard for neurotypicals to grasp this. I'm extremely fortunate to have worked almost constantly since I was 19, sometimes at great personal cost in terms of mental health. I now wfh 2 days a week, with 1 day in the office. I can just about cope with this, but can't imagine working full time again. I'm not lazy, I've 2 disabled children to care for and I can't afford to be a burnt out wreck.
Hi Puds! Thanks again for reading my substack! The support for the disabled and long term sick who are able to work in a limited way is truly woeful. And there’s always this fear of your benefits being taken away because you’ll suddenly be declared ‘fit’! That’s why I think this recategorisation policy is going to cause more harm than good. What we need is for the existing assessment and support structures to be improved. I’m sure employers could benefit from getting more people to help them in a part time capacity (cheaper for them!) since most able bodied people obviously prefer full time work.
Hope so much you’re doing ok? Miss you on Twitter! xx
Twitter just got too much for me, I realised it was doing me more harm than good. I should have DMd you my number before I left, we could have kept in touch via WhatsApp.
I agree the current system needs an overhaul, a comprehensive rethink, and disabled people should be part of that process. I don't think that will happen. Also, it's complex, trying to create a system that's simple to administer but covers the huge spectrum of needs. It is a herculean task and I don't envy the poor souls tasked with it. They won't please anyone.
I'm doing the best I've been in years, good to read your posts xx
Great article! The genuinely disabled/sick really do miss out when their benefits are spread so thin and given to the reasonably healthy. I do believe there should be a UBI-like system of Universal Basic Services for everyone regardless of health status, but people who cannot work should receive an extra income supplement as they are unable to earn money through work.