• Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 1712 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Depression and finding work

Medivh

Hi there,

I am a 26 year old adult with Asperger's Syndrome, and am looking for a bit of advice on two aspects.

I am currently suffering from depression for which I am on medication.

I have tried one to one CBT but struggled to do the work involved. This type of counselling does not seem to have suited me, and am wondering what other options I could try.

I am also struggling to find work currently. I had a part time job but the contract ended, and despite applying for other jobs I have not been successful.

I have not signed on as of yet and am wondering what experience others may have had with telling Jobcentre Plus about their AS, like would they assign a disability advisor etc.?

Parents

  • Hi Medivh

    Jobcentre plus do have schemes to help autistic people.  They run the Access to Work Scheme for those in work (and which has proved of immense help to me) and another scheme for those out of work via a disability advisor.

    Different 'Charities' get involved in providing the help, depending on where you live.  They shoulld all be specialist charities that deal with autism.

    Where I live, the service is provided by Autism West Midlands, and a link to their relevant page for the unemployed is here

    Their service is provided in conjunction with Advance Employement, which is based in Oxfordshire and covers, I think, Oxford, London, Leicester and Solihull.  I know it is unlikely you are in one of these areas but the autism west midland link above might helpshow the work which is avaiable.

    By declaring your autism the Jobcentre will give you different treatment from the targets that unemployed people usually have to meet.

    If you are unsure, you could ring the Jobcentre (or get someone close to you to ring on your behalf) and ask them what they can do with you.  I could certainly not contact a dozen employers a day asking for jobs, or even one.  To do so would cause me immense stress, and I have great difficulty using the telephone anyway.  Just make sure that you explain you are not stupid, and explain the difficulties you have, that would help prevent being put on a programme involving literacy skills.

    Regarding depression, I suffered severe depression and anxiety last year, which I am still recovering from.  I don't think drugs really help, and cbt was not a lot of good for me either.  Time away from the cause of depression (in my case work related stress caused by my autism and different work processes being introduced) is the thing that has helped me, and then getting adjustments at work (through Access to Work and with help from my Union and Autism West Midlands) has helped me.

    Anyway, good luck, and hope everything goes well and that you find a service that will help you that is local to you.

Reply

  • Hi Medivh

    Jobcentre plus do have schemes to help autistic people.  They run the Access to Work Scheme for those in work (and which has proved of immense help to me) and another scheme for those out of work via a disability advisor.

    Different 'Charities' get involved in providing the help, depending on where you live.  They shoulld all be specialist charities that deal with autism.

    Where I live, the service is provided by Autism West Midlands, and a link to their relevant page for the unemployed is here

    Their service is provided in conjunction with Advance Employement, which is based in Oxfordshire and covers, I think, Oxford, London, Leicester and Solihull.  I know it is unlikely you are in one of these areas but the autism west midland link above might helpshow the work which is avaiable.

    By declaring your autism the Jobcentre will give you different treatment from the targets that unemployed people usually have to meet.

    If you are unsure, you could ring the Jobcentre (or get someone close to you to ring on your behalf) and ask them what they can do with you.  I could certainly not contact a dozen employers a day asking for jobs, or even one.  To do so would cause me immense stress, and I have great difficulty using the telephone anyway.  Just make sure that you explain you are not stupid, and explain the difficulties you have, that would help prevent being put on a programme involving literacy skills.

    Regarding depression, I suffered severe depression and anxiety last year, which I am still recovering from.  I don't think drugs really help, and cbt was not a lot of good for me either.  Time away from the cause of depression (in my case work related stress caused by my autism and different work processes being introduced) is the thing that has helped me, and then getting adjustments at work (through Access to Work and with help from my Union and Autism West Midlands) has helped me.

    Anyway, good luck, and hope everything goes well and that you find a service that will help you that is local to you.

Children
No Data