Facebook photos get depressed woman's benefits cut

IGNORANCE - Any one who has ever gone through depression will know, its not that you feel sad - its much worse than that...one minute you feel like life is great, the next minute you feel worthless. I struggle with this DISEASE daily and it puts a strain on all aspects of my life. Agreed, there are plenty of people who abuse the system and we ALL pay for this...However we should not be so quick to judge unless we have first hand knowledge of the individual story.

I have noticed a shift in media coverage lately regarding depression - hopefully this will educate the average person who thinks you can just 'get over it' and get on with your day.

To the person who wrote 'if you're depressed, ACT like you're depressed'... Total stupidity...If I am depressed I have to put all my might into not being depressed... I have consciously tell myself to fight through it. If not a 2-3 bad day streak will turn into a week/month/year...

nobody has considered that the insurer might have actually seeked both medical and legal positions on the issue before they acted.

"B" you say that you struggle to exist on a daily basis to get out of bed, so given your experience on the issue do you think you could just forget it all for even just one night to party and appear to be totally happy? Perhaps given the diagnosis of this ladies depression could it be the medical opinion that pretending to be happy would not be possible with her given ailment?

Not all depression is created equally so even for another depressed person to say they have a valid point of view is false. I have known a few people with depression issues and at least one of them was simply not capable of even pretending to be happy or to put on that fake smile you talk about, and if his doctors saw him enjoy himself the diagnosis would simply change...period.

How many of your comments have come from outside Canada? Do you realize that this lady would have been given coverage from a provincial gov't health plan? that makes your comments about not having benefits available to you irrelevant to this issue.

As far as Facebook being used as what some people try to call a privacy infringement, those people need to learn their rights. Facebook and the internet as a whole is a public domain, much as if you were to write a book and have it published for retail sales worldwide, so why would people think that Facebook should be only their property? The fact is it WAS your property until you posted it and after that point you have no more rights to the content.....does nobody ever read ToS? Basically quit crying because you agreed to something you did not read.

The problem even with doctors supporting the insurance company is that some doctors will testify to anything if the insurance company asks them to - and pays them. I can easily point out cases where ONE doctor supported the insurance company while the weight of medical opinion was on the client's side. The problem is that not every (read VERY FEW) clients have the wherewithal and the patience to fight for years against HUGE insurance company. There are companies I trust - Manu on the INDIVIDUAL insurance side and there are companies I will not TOUCH - Greatr West/Canada

I suffer from clinical depression also. I am not eligable (in Canada) for benefits due to depression, because my husbands income exceeds a certain amount (we are slightly above the poverty line).
Depression is an AWFUL thing to go through. Some days all I want to do is sleep and never wake up. Some days, it's easier, and I can do things, like a fair with my 2 small children, or a night out with the girls, just trying to relax and have a good time. Just because you are CAPABLE of having a good time and maybe a vacation, does NOT mean other days are good ones too. Does NOT mean that magically, you are no longer severely depressed. Often, people with depression have highs and lows- bad days and good days. So, all you people saying that she should stop lying, etc.... think logically about this. Do YOU ever have bad days? Do you have good ones? Hopefully since you go to work and aren't depressed, you should ACT not depressed. This is a ridiculous situation. Basically, Manulife is saying this "Hey! Depressed people aren't allowed to have fun! Depressed people aren't allowed to go on vacation!" How depressing is THAT?! That someone suffering from depression isn't supposed to have a life, isn't supposed to have friends, isn't supposed to go on vacation. Someone suffering from depressions houldn't ACT happy, shouldn't ACT relaxed on a beach somewhere. What stupid, ludicrous ideas. Depressed people should have every single right to fun, vacations, and getting away from it all. Manulife, for shame. She has probably paid into the plan every paycheque, and it is there for people to use. NOT to take advantage of, but to use when appropriate. Depression is an awful thing to live with, and sometimes makes life impossible to live normally. So, normal things like vacation, a night out with some friends, those things are GOOD for depression.
I hope all you negative people posting comments one day need to take benefit leave, and then we can say to you "OH it's not that bad, you can work, get back to work lazy ass, suck it up!".

I think there are definitely many issues that need to be considered here. While Manulife certainly has grounds to question the validity of this woman's claim of depression, they should not have unilaterraly suspended her payments. Furthermore, they should have communicated their decision to her better, people do rely on this money, rather than her being informed by not receiving a payment. Overall, however, I do find it hard to have sympathy for this woman, she certainly is presenting herself in an entitled, selfish manner - whether that be the case or not.

To B, I feel for you, I really hope things get better for you.

I suffer from depression too. I have attempted suicide. I see a 2 therapists. I had claimed CPP Disability. I used the time that I received benefits to receive therapy. Eventually I was able to go back to work - starting out at 1 or 2 days a week and working up. Now I work 4, 5 or 6 days a week and support myself. I still have moments of depression but I find things that I enjoy to do. I have never missed work because of depression. I also had vacations during my depression but not out of the country and surely not partying.

No one can help you unless you help yourself. So get off the pot and help yourself instead of having someone else support you. That goes for people on social assistance, benefits etc. If you can't work at least get out and give back to the community that is supporting you!

I think she is a disgusting human being taking advantage of a system to easy to fool. She should go to prison for fraud.

I really don't understand how someone can be put on disability for depression and yet someone who really physically cannot work is denied! I suffer from clinical depression, but I work not only a full time job but I also take on various other odd jobs to support myself. I get no assistance at all but still get up every morning even though I want to crawl up in a fetal position in my bed and not see anyone or for anyone to see me. The qualifications for disability really need to be re-addressed!

What people do not realize is that placing pictures in a public place like facebook can have consequences!!! While Manulife's decision may not have been based solely on the matter they were what most likely pointed them to have another look at things. When pictures are posted in a public arena you are making them fair game for anyone to look at.

To Alisha - it depends who you are claiming disability benefits FROM. While most government funded plans have very rigid definitions of what constitutes "disability" (Remember - unlike death, disability must be defined. If your heart is not beating - if you are not breathing - if there is no brain activity - you are PROBABLY dead - unless you are a politician). Different policies cover different degrees of disability. Some only cover "total" - but how is THAT defined? Inability to do ANY job? Inability to do YOUR job? - some change the definiition after (typically) two years. Does it ONLY cover "total" - or does it also cover "partial" disabilities - where your ability to work is reduced - but not eliminated - for example the early stages of cancer or MS or the recovery period after a heart attack? Regrettably depression is a HUGE cause of disability - along with back problems they are the top two causes of claim - and "depression" is a legitimate disability - I do agree that it CAN be abused but I STRONGLY support everyone on here who speaks to its legitiimacyand take umbrage at those who ignorantly attack those suffering from it. I also remind all of you that I earn my living (and have since 1969) talking about disability insurance - I know very much what I am talking about

I have several (7) severe chronic health issues. I have applied for LTD from Manulife and been denied. I am living in extreme poverty.....had to visit the food bank recently. I can no longer afford to pay for healthy food, physiotherapists visits, and no cannot pay for transportation to get to my many medical appointments (usually 3-4 per week). IF my appeal is denied, what choice does that leave for me? My conditions are of a degenerative nature and will not improve. So, will I end up on welfare? Then, the taxpayer will be on the hook instread of the rich insurance company to whom I paid LTD premiums for 15 years.......what's fair about that? Even if you're on LTD, you still have to live--that means shopping, cooking, etc. In my case, I'm single, on my own, and don't have family to help care for me. Really, the insurance companies are so disgusting, their bottom line seems always to be about money. I have a friend, who is totally blind from Type 1 diabetes. Can you believe Manulife tried to force him back to work by cutting off his LTD benefits? He had to fight to get them back, after almost one year finally got them back--oh yeah he's in a wheelchair too becaus of having several toes amputated due to diabetes......still Manulife cut him off. They are cutthroat.

Right...I am aware this is 3 years after this was posted but I feel the need to say something.
I was searching for financial help for mental disabilities from the government and this was one of the things that popped up.
The article is pretty unbiased (which is unusual for journalism reflecting whatever society wants it to)
But some of the comments are horrendous.
Some of you people are so narrow minded and to be quite blunt a little unintelligent.
How can some of you brand people with mental illnesses as "lazy" and "join the world of work like the rest of us" ?
It is articles like this that suggest (only suggest) that some people on benefits are fiddling the system.
It'd be like an article suggesting a black person may have robbed someone and not only you assuming they definitely did it but that all black people steal things.
Basically it is a form of prejudice.
People with mental health conditions do not have an easy life.
They are plagued in a waking hell, as soon as they open their eyes and the demons resurface they want to be asleep again. In essence a lot of people who are mentally ill and did not get help in the form of benefits when they are at their worst could die.
Would you deny someone else with a harder to fake illness treatment and support if there was a high risk of them dying?
Granted there are people who put on ailments to receive benefits but they are in the minority.
There are politicians and companies that steal from the public too but they are in the minority and we don't do away with the government just because of a few bad eggs.
You can't give everyone a bad rep just because of a small minority of people.
I have a horrendous time of it with my mental health. I desperately want to lead a normal life and have a career and a family and achieve things but at this point in my life I cannot push myself even to leave the house.
I need support, I need help, I need not to want to die. And people judging and saying a lot of people on benefits are "lazy-liars" doesn't help people like me who can see death more clearly than they can see life.
Just because you have depression does not mean you can't go on holiday or enjoy a meal with your friends and in the moment feel ok. Then go home and cry uncontrollably and harm yourself.
I had a day where I had a lovely time, I went to watch a film with friends we had a really good time then I got home and I scratched my arm raw and made myself sick from crying.
When you feel like that it can come on in an instant it's like being put in the smallest darkest box and the walls closing in on you you cannot see life and good even if you had a wonderful day all you can see is the box and the only way to escape and feel alive is to sort of jolt yourself into life by physically harming yourself and feeling pain. Seeing blood and feeling pain takes the focus off the other suffering and on a more obvious level reminds you the you are alive when you feel dead.
If any of you people posting small minded shit about the woman in the article had ever experienced the feelings I just described at least once a week for even a few months of your life I'm sure you would change you're opinions quickly. When you are in real pain even for a short amount of time you'd be embarrassed by your previous opinions and humbled by people who live their lives like that.
Feeling like that is like a cancer that you can't cut out because it's in your brain and the way you see the world, you are reminded of it in everything you see.
I have only explained a small potion of what it feels like to have a mental illness.
In short it is fucking shit. Life is unlivable and work; would you be thinking about your job if you were hanging off a cliff from your fingertips? I think most would say no.
Having a mental illness can feel like that at times.
You are a thread away from death sometimes. And have to really fight for life.
Does someone have to kill themselves before people will accept they have a severe health condition nowadays?
I would rather wish death on someone than a mental illness at least death is usually quick and isn't judged.

Right...I am aware this is 3 years after this was posted but I feel the need to say something.
I was searching for financial help for mental disabilities from the government and this was one of the things that popped up.
The article is pretty unbiased (which is unusual for journalism reflecting whatever society wants it to)
But some of the comments are horrendous.
Some of you people are so narrow minded and to be quite blunt a little unintelligent.
How can some of you brand people with mental illnesses as "lazy" and "join the world of work like the rest of us" ?
It is articles like this that suggest (only suggest) that some people on benefits are fiddling the system.
It'd be like an article suggesting a black person may have robbed someone and not only you assuming they definitely did it but that all black people steal things.
Basically it is a form of prejudice.
People with mental health conditions do not have an easy life.
They are plagued in a waking hell, as soon as they open their eyes and the demons resurface they want to be asleep again. In essence a lot of people who are mentally ill and did not get help in the form of benefits when they are at their worst could die.
Would you deny someone else with a harder to fake illness treatment and support if there was a high risk of them dying?
Granted there are people who put on ailments to receive benefits but they are in the minority.
There are politicians and companies that steal from the public too but they are in the minority and we don't do away with the government just because of a few bad eggs.
You can't give everyone a bad rep just because of a small minority of people.
I have a horrendous time of it with my mental health. I desperately want to lead a normal life and have a career and a family and achieve things but at this point in my life I cannot push myself even to leave the house.
I need support, I need help, I need not to want to die. And people judging and saying a lot of people on benefits are "lazy-liars" doesn't help people like me who can see death more clearly than they can see life.
Just because you have depression does not mean you can't go on holiday or enjoy a meal with your friends and in the moment feel ok. Then go home and cry uncontrollably and harm yourself.
I had a day where I had a lovely time, I went to watch a film with friends we had a really good time then I got home and I scratched my arm raw and made myself sick from crying.
When you feel like that it can come on in an instant it's like being put in the smallest darkest box and the walls closing in on you you cannot see life and good even if you had a wonderful day all you can see is the box and the only way to escape and feel alive is to sort of jolt yourself into life by physically harming yourself and feeling pain. Seeing blood and feeling pain takes the focus off the other suffering and on a more obvious level reminds you the you are alive when you feel dead.
If any of you people posting small minded shit about the woman in the article had ever experienced the feelings I just described at least once a week for even a few months of your life I'm sure you would change you're opinions quickly. When you are in real pain even for a short amount of time you'd be embarrassed by your previous opinions and humbled by people who live their lives like that.
Feeling like that is like a cancer that you can't cut out because it's in your brain and the way you see the world, you are reminded of it in everything you see.
I have only explained a small potion of what it feels like to have a mental illness.
In short it is fucking shit. Life is unlivable and work; would you be thinking about your job if you were hanging off a cliff from your fingertips? I think most would say no.
Having a mental illness can feel like that at times.
You are a thread away from death sometimes. And have to really fight for life.
Does someone have to kill themselves before people will accept they have a severe health condition nowadays?
I would rather wish death on someone than a mental illness at least death is usually quick and isn't judged.