The Workshy Disabled Person

Received by email:

I would like nothing more than to walk to work on a crisp winter morning.

I would like nothing more than a reason to get out of bed each day.

I would like nothing more than to be paid for the hard work that I do.

I would like nothing more that to be able to answer "What do you do for a living?" without feeling embarrassed.

I would like nothing more than to know what a weekend feels like.

I would like nothing more than to unwind after work with my colleagues.

But I can't get into employment because of a debilitating health problem.

Do I sound workshy to you?

UK - Planned changes to Housing Benefit likely to affect bipolar sufferers

From January 2012, the UK government plans to raise the minimum age for claiming housing benefit for a one-bedroom flat, from 25 to 35. This means that many people with bipolar disorder, will suffer severe disruption to their lives.

The reduction in benefits will mean that people who currently live in self-contained accommodation, will be paid the rate of housing benefit designed for people who rent a room in shared houses. Many people will be unable to afford not to move.

The changes will affect most single people who live alone and claim housing benefit. The changes do not appear to affect claimants of the DLA (Disability Living Allowance) care component at the middle or higher rate. This means that the people most severely affected by bipolar disorder may not have to move, but many others will do.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are easily exacerbated by stress. Being forced, not just to move house, but to find new people to live with, will have a profound negative effect on vast numbers of people with mental health problems.

Even once the trauma of moving home has passed, shared accommodation will not suit many people with mental health problems. Although most people with bipolar disorder will comfortably adapt to new housemates, others will find that losing their independence has a profound negative impact on their wellbeing.

Being able to live in self-contained accommodation gives people with bipolar disorder a chance to build self-confidence. This has a knock on effect on other areas of their life, and can be an important milestone in helping disabled people achieve other things, such as returning to full time employment.

In some cases, suffering from severe mood swings can put a substantial strain on interpersonal relationships, making house share situations difficult to maintain.

These government plans are irresponsible and do not offer people with mental health problems the protection that they need. People with bipolar disorder have special needs which do not appear to have been adequately addressed in this decision.

To find out more about the impact that these changes will have on vulnerable members of society, see the Crisis Campaign on the Shared Accommodation Rate.

Interview with author of new LGBt novel - Rosen Trevithick

In an exclusive interview with Bipolar Bisexual, Rosen Trevithick tells us about her new novel, Straight Out of University.

Hello Rosen, the book title begins with the words "Straight Out", are we to assume that it's about sexuality?

Yes. Straight Out of University is about a bisexual woman, Sophie. It's about her journey as she goes from dating women she meets at university, into a relationship with a man after she finishes studying.

So Sophie is "Gay until graduation"?

Oh I hate that cliche. Sophie is bisexual to begin with, and she stays bisexual throughout the book. However, some of the other characters do not see it that way, and she faces a lot of prejudice.

Is homophobia a theme in the book?

Homophobia is touched upon, but much of the prejudice Sophie experiences relates to her opting for a heterosexual relationship after dating women for a considerable time. However, prejudices are just a small part of the book. The story focuses on Sophie's personal feelings and her relationships.

Are you writing from experience?

Everybody writes from experience to some extent. It's not autobiographical. I did a lot of research before I wrote the book. I collected accounts from bisexual women all over the world, and I combined those with my own observations, to create Sophie's story.

So, would you say that Sophie's tale is typical of a bisexual woman?

It's about one character's experience. Every bisexual woman has a different story to tell. For every woman who told me that she settled down with a man, there was another in a long-term lesbian relationship. Most women were quick to refute the stereotype that bisexual women are rubbish at monogamy, but a noticeable number reported that they did indeed enjoy simultaneous relationships with men and women.

What else can we expect from "Straight Out of University"?

Well, it's a romantic comedy so it will hopefully make you giggle. Sophie meets some pretty laughable characters. It's not just about sexuality but also the differences between university years, and later adult life, and between living in a city and living in the country.

Do you think the readers of Bipolar Bisexual will enjoy Straight Out of University?

I hope so! The book's aimed at people across the spectrum. However, I think it will strike a chord with many bisexual women, particularly anybody who's stumbled out of a new boyfriend's shower for the first time and thought, "right, now where does he keep his hair straighteners and lippy?"

Where can readers buy Straight Out of University and how much will it cost?

You can find out more about buying options at http://www.rosentrevithick.co.uk. The book costs £3.