I felt that I was being harassed by my boss at work because of past, non-work related, issues involving depression. The factory manager had an open door policy, and I asked that non-work issues involving my depression never be brought up.
As a result, they hired a security firm to evaluate me to see "if I was a potentual danger." They had a "big-time" expert, Dr. Harley Stock, meet with me one day, who then determined after one meeting that I "was a dangerous person"! According to information from various websites, he was FBI trained, and appears to have some strong opinions against people with depression and other mental conditions.
My employer fired me after Dr. Stock made his claims, and my only hope is that the Civil Rights Commision can get to the truth, and reasons, for what happened. I never thought that by having depression that I would end up being called a "Dangerous Person", as if I was like a terrorist or violent criminal!
My Veterns Adminstration doctor does not believe that I am dangerous, and offered to work with my employer to address their concerns. They did not want to discuss accessability, and I was told that I would never work for them again.
Is this something new, or have others experienced simular actions? I am having trouble dealing with it, because it is hard finding a new job and knowing what to tell a potentual employer.
If anyone can point me to support or advice, I am interested. My doctor can only treat the depression. The bigger issue is finding justice and being allowed to work.
Go speak with your Attorney immediately!!! Depression & other types of illness's are covered under the American with Disabilities Act & employers cannot fire person's with those conditions.
You can have justice this route, but I must warn you, employers have been known to put information in an employee's file for other just reasons for a firing. Basically it ends up being your word against theirs.
Do you really want to mess with a huge mess? Beside's would you really want to work for them again? Just some things to consider. Cat
What you are describing is a large fear of mine. I would like to say that it surprises me but it does not.
What has happened to me this past year is very different but there are a number of similarities.
People always will give the advice, if you are really down and are seriously considering suicide, then call 911 and get some help, or go to the emergency room, or something like that.
It sounds like good advice and most of the time it probably is…
But what happens when the police come with their guns drawn and beat you into the dirt or kill you.
What happens when the doctor calls the police?
What happens when the therapist calls the police?
And even if you do not wind up dead when the entire incident is on you record.
Either police record or medical record or any other record then you might as well be dead because you will run into it for the rest of your life.
Every job, every relationship you have will be changed.
Well, it was for me anyway.
I DO NOT recommend this to anyone, but honestly, if I ever try it again, there is no way I would ever tell anyone or leave a note or reach out in any way.
I do not trust anyone. It is that simple.
Some might say well you would have died anyway. But, it is not the same, there are fates worse then death in my mind.
Anyhow my story is that I have had one person on the police pull me over and beat me up twice.
It was very traumatic for me and I am still hurting mentally.
I have spent about a year’s wages and time in the courts just trying to keep my license (and thus my job).
My lawyers would not do ANY discovery.
I asked them to get the video from the car for the police beating me up.
I asked for a trial if that was the best way to go.
I asked them to start with the assumption that I am innocent.
Nobody would do any of this.
Every lawyer’s assumptions have been that I over reacted and that I am the “dangerous person”.
They never even thought that it could be the other way.
This was the reaction of my therapist and my family also.
Mother wrote a terrible letter to the lawyer saying that I had tried suicide once and that she would like me under court order to take whatever medication she thinks is necessary.
After this letter, there was never a though given to challenge the actions of the officer.
I was put in a box in a category. I am sure you feel the same way.
Nobody will ever see me as a good, loving person.
Forevermore I am the “depressed” person the “dangerous person”.
THEY MAKE YOU PAY FOR THE PAST FOREVER.
That is the way I feel anyway.
I see some evil in the way my family, doctors, therapists, and the authorities wanted to be able to feel about me. The label depression lets them justify their feelings.
And once one person treats you that way others are soon to follow…. Them it is not long until to act like others expect you to act. It is a very vicious cycle.
I see the same type of prejudice in your employer’s reaction.
Sorry to babble on.
But I think I know what your are talking about. Depression is still used by society to make lives harder in every way.
I have found that people do make it harder for me to work and to find justice. To excuse there actions they blame my depression and me and label me as a “dangerous person”
[This message has been edited by ffsmith (edited 02-12-2003).]
Michael & ffsmith: I don't have anything to offer in the way of a solution for what you are going through, went through, but I would like to say I am absolutely mortified. I guess that shows how naive I am. I thought this was the USA, not the middle ages where people with chemical imbalances were thought to be possessed by demons and put in jail. Good lord!
Michael,
Mental illness is not a 'protected status' against discrimination per se, like age, sex, disability, etc. However, if you can show that the depression WAS a disability at the time of your employ, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) you may have grounds for a lawsuit or complaint on the basis of a human rights violation. To qualify for ADA the illness must affect a major life area such as work or other major activitie(s), or there may be some other requirements - you should consult the Human Rights Commission or some such body within the city, county or state the employer is located in, or a private attorney if you wish.
One caveat is that it sounds like you may have had a job requiring access to classified material or some knowledge of clandestine or covert operations -or military related? Or a job involving nuclear power or nuclear materials, or as an air traffic controller...these are a few areas where an employer may be justified in using more restrictive criteria in screening for mental illness, although it does sound like in this case they might be snowing you..can't tell without being there.
Fired for having depression? 
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