Official thread: ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper released Tuesday 26th November
Comments
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My anxiety and depression is through the roof, as soon as I wake up it starts, I'm also helping my elderly parents who are struggling physically and they help me and I help them so it's really affecting my mental health trying to cope with it all. I'm on esa lcwra I think, panics me on how things will affect me.
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Mental health bad enough for us all for months been beaten down by tories and I feel labour no better didn't mention us in manifesto and for months after being elected still leaving us guessing it's depressing draining last job I had I got done for harassment went on sick as boss was bullying me I left the job had breakdown and was phoning ex boss round the clock calling her names the lot was arrested I'm not proud of this but if I'm in constant contact with people ie colleagues I get paranoid don't want to be looked at can't hold information oh many other things I'm so drained from worry I lost all faith
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All this worry about what this and the previous government will do has actually aged me significantly, I turned 36 last Saturday, whilst there was a storm ripping the fences down. Looking in the mirror sometimes I forget it's me.
I'm thankful to have someone to look after me, many people in my same position do not have such a privilege and they have to face this hostile society.
What concerns me is this growing hostility towards the mentally/physically incapacitated, in particular the mentally incapacitated, it's really simple, if the mind if gone then the body is gone, both have to work together. For the physically disabled their struggle physically can effect them mentally which is a double whammy, all in all different people react differently under emotional and physical incapacities.
Some people trivialize mental/emotional illness/disabilities and yes since the height of covid more and more people are signing off with Depression/Anxiety but surely instead of mocking them how about uncover why so many are signing off since Covid, maybe the trauma of Covid hurt them, losing loved ones, maybe the isolation of lockdowns hurt them…we deal with trauma differently.
Something has gone terribly wrong in Britain, as the country's money well dries up we're losing our compassion but mental/physical disabilities can hit anyone at any time surely it's wise to maintain a society which cares for it's disabled? I think many members of the public are short sighted and pay too much attention to the media who gets off on sowing division and hatred.
It's cathartic to type sometimes, apologies.
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Agreed. I've been very disappointed to see such a sharp increase in hostility towards those with mental health issues in recent times. This increase in hostility is no doubt worsened by the huge rise in both government / mainstream media propaganda against those on sickness benefits claiming for mental health issues.
What saddens me even more is that even here on this forum, a place where we're supposed to support one another, I've seen a couple of people claim that mental health issues are ''not a disability.''.
I'm sick and tired of this incessant trivializing and mocking of mental illness. It's shocking that throughout Europe it seems that 21st century Britain is consistently one of the worst offenders for 'brushing under the carpet' the true severity and debilitating nature of mental illness and for treating us as if we're nothing more than a 'burden' on the state and the welfare system.
It's even harder because unlike most physical issues, we often have no 'proof' of our debilitating struggles with our mental health, we could be suffering absolute hell on a daily basis but because we don't have a 'scan' or a 'test result' which shows it on paper, we are often not believed and we have to fight to justify ourselves and at assessments for benefits, etc, we are forced to expose our most vulnerable side and explain in-depth the suffering and immense struggles we endure every day.
Government statistics show that on average in the UK, every 90 minutes a person takes their own life. Mental health issues are not something to be downplayed. Ever.6 -
Yes Remina I agree, it makes me so angry listening to people in the media saying that a job would be good for people with anxiety and depression, just trivialising it as a temporary thing, bit of CBT then off to work you go.
I'd love for some of these media people and politicians to only for an hour experience some of the stuff we go through day to day because as you say we habe have 'no proof' of how we are, maybe my scars are a little but I'd expect them to call it attention seeking or something.. The suicide rate is huge, can't they see that as proof of the problem, bit of CBT for someone suicidal ffs.
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I feel really down , wake up with palpitations and see the world in doom . It's the time of year for me , cancer diagnosis on 13th December 2022, just can't snap out of it . I don't think anyone really cares about me , I'm just a number .
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It's horrible and like you say the worry of all this is causing more anxiety panic depression . We've been on high alert from 2020 when covid hit , and to top it all businesses were lost and my husbands business was one of them . 29 years of trading and then closed to covid when other businesses were allowed to stay open, such as supermarkets selling the same stuff we did . Then i got cancer and now we live off benefits .
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I agree it's a living hell minute by minute the dark thoughts it feels like someone's pushing my shoulders down falling to the ground it lies torments bullies you tells you your worthless no one likes you a failure a burden your alive but life less going to the toilet is an effort like walking through sinking mud getting no where having o energy to face anyone the world is a scary place your stuck unable to move mentally physically reaching for a way out but you have kids dogs that need you feeling your letting them down it's constant like being in a abusive relationship and every minute your brain screaming so get hooked on alcohol medication to quite the mind but it's thier no therapy on tablets work and the mental pain causes physical pain all over body and then can be the rages the anger towards people feeling letdown from one emotion to the other the burnout the tiredness but can't rest the anxiety that kicks you so hard you can't breath the panic that leaves you terrorised like bad things going to happen the shakes from fear hiding in bed thinking only safe place but there is no safe place people gaslighting you saying pull yourself together who chooses a life like that !!!! Mental health has and is ruined my life if I see people same age as me bought own homes had successful relationships Jobs and no matter how you try to be like that it causes more mental pain so to whoever said mental health is less of a disability thankgod you never suffered
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We won't know anything until Spring. So I am not giving this any more head space. I am not worrying for the next five months.
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Starmer’s Plan to Push Long Term Sick Into Work Risks ‘Devastating Deterioration’ of Conditions Costing Even More in the Long Run
https://bylinetimes.com/2024/12/11/starmers-plan-to-push-long-term-sick-into-work-risks-devastating-deterioration-of-conditions-costing-even-more-in-the-long-run/
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Hi all,
Just a quick note from me: I know it’s rough out there right now, especially with the attitudes towards disabled people being as they are.
If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or completely overwhelmed, please remember that there are places that can help. Mind has loads of resources for mental health, and you can call the Samaritans for free any time on 116 123—they’re always there to listen. If you’re stressed about money or benefits, Citizens Advice can be really useful.
It’s okay to feel like this, but please make sure to look after yourselves, yeah? And don’t hesitate to reach out for support when you need it.
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Yes it is a very difficult time of year, all the xmas stuff can do one, since my dog died and both parents very unwell dealing with it on the on my own and the worry of what may happen in the spring.
Surely the worst possible instances have to go through parliament and there will surely be mp's that aren't heartless towards us disabled people.. So annoys me that the amount of bonuses wealthy people get, foreign aid to countries that are wealthy anyway and or corrupt. Why not focus on people on jsa that have no intentions of doing anything. Are they going to drag people out of hospitals to work.
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Do you think thier doing after local elections ? Deliberately so we still vote for our local labour mps
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I won't be voting the labour mp in she is ignorant and never replies to any emails.
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Local elections are for local councillors , I think Mps are general elections, I wouldn't vote for my MP again,
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@Catherine21 Local elections give an idea of how popular central government policy is. When a Council is won or lost tells an MP how he/she might fair in a General Election. I have a good Labour councillor but I'd be tempted to vote Green to give this government a shock.
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Think I will be doing the same t
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Same as mine he doesn't even live in the area
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The press have now done it, seen two interviews asking ministers to name a company who is promoting work from home for people with health problems, they were pushed and refused to name a single company, also seen a similar interview for employers agreeing with the new employment laws, they just make stuff up.
Ironically the 3 steps you put in was the Tories plan, descriptors for new claimants changed in 2025, then complete removal of LCWRA from everyone by 2029, to be replaced PIP health top up. (the latter would be equal cash support but not effect obligations for work related activity).
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I've just caught up with this thread. I still am frustrated that there's nothing in government rhetoric at the moment - or from charities and organisations supporting disabled people, Scope included - addressing disabled people who already work, and the lack of job security. The idea of getting disabled people into work is pointless if another slew of disabled people are being made redundant at the same time because we're in temporary contracts or working in local government, where disability accessibility is better but where funding is constantly being cut.
I can't work full time, but I can work, and I do work. However, for me, the barrier with employment is getting through the interview and being considered for the job. Interviews discriminate SO MUCH against ND candidates and I've suffered from this time and time again. I have to make personal sacrifices and jump through additional hoops just to get to a point where I'm considered for a temporary contract, then potentially the whole rigmarole begins again. But still, all I hear in the media is the narrative of disabled people not working and how wonderful it would be if they all did…I feel like if there was more balanced reporting about disabled people already in employment, there might be less negative energy spent on people who can't work, as well. Because right now a lot of people out there think no disabled people are working at all, and that all disability benefits are "compensation" for not having a job. This is so far from the truth its painful - people either work or can't work, some claim benefits and some don't. But it's frustrating that in all of this discussion, literally nobody is interested in those of us already in work and in desperate need of protection and support.
I also agree that people with invisible disabilities, including mental illness but also neurodiversity and others, are taking the majority of the backlash and that that backlash is here on this forum as well.
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