Revealing one’s mental health issue is completely a personal choice. You need to look far and wide for all the benefits and repercussions your disclosure could lead to in the future. Where there is a chance of getting sacked, your declaration might make it easy for you to ask for support and adjustments when required.

The first decision that you need to make is which job is accommodating for your state of mind. Can you handle stress or what impact does your medicine can have on your overall performance? After you find the option that you believe will not topple over your mental stability balance, plan out what qualities are required for the job. If resilience and resolution are one of them, make the most of this opportunity and declare it as your strengths as per your past experiences with your illness.

Being upfront and honest in the beginning is the best option as your condition will not stay hidden forever and once it reveals itself, things will get messy and difficult to handle for you. Also, it will be misinterpreted as your performance failure. Rather if your organization is aware of the situation, they will make adjustments and address the problem swiftly. Most importantly, it is important to realize that your mental health is a part of your identity, and owning up to it will shape your life; this stigma needs to be broken then it should start with you and all the others going through this situation.

There is no obligation to state the truth during the hiring process if you are not comfortable, you may reveal it later when you feel like your mental state taking a toll but before things have gone out of hand. Apart from that, if you are sure that your mental health will not affect your performance or organizational relations then there is no reason to report it.

Remember there is no single correct answer to your question, and especially when it comes from others. Take a look into the pros and cons of admission of your health and decide for yourself which path you want to choose:

Pros:

• If the company understands your situation that means that the company’s culture is a perfect setting for you. They may have policies for people like you who may benefit from it.
• The company will opt for a flexible work structure for you to avoid any stress or any other factor that might trigger a negative response from your psychology.
• Your organization will have a clear vision of all your struggles and will recognize the extra efforts you put into your work compared to other employees.
• This will boost your confidence, knowing you have a support system will assure you that someone has your back, and this way you will be more focused on polishing your capabilities rather than worrying about the worst at all times.
• People will become more aware of mental health issues and how to deal with them. This is an excellent way to break stereotypes and change people’s attitudes toward these issues.

Cons:

• You might not be hired as there are chances of your organization undermining your abilities.
• Discrimination among employees is something you should be prepared for. You might not be selected for certain projects or have lesser prospects for promotion.
• You may not be able to develop good relationships with your colleagues and may feel ostracized.

As per my evaluation, the pros outweigh the cons. Having said that, this decision should be made entirely based on intensity of your condition and the level of a hindrance it might produce in the way of your professional choices. Also, this is where your sense of judgment comes into play, once you enter the interview hall and start the conversation, trust your intuition if it says your disclosure might be irrelevant or if it emphasizes revealing the truth after knowing the nature of your potential job.

Lastly, never let your mental health bend and break you, even if you get rejected there are always other doors waiting for you to be knocked upon.