“Insurers who make an issue of mental health problems - Steve Walter”

If you suffer from a mental health problem, or have done so in the past, you may find it hard to obtain certain forms of protection insurance, regardless of when you were ill.

While insurers disregard some medical health problems after a set period of time, a history of mental illness will, in most cases, have to be disclosed. This is despite an estimated one in four people in the UK suffering from a mental health condition within any one year – with stress being one of the most common reasons why people are long-term absentees from work.

Insurers claim that while they do often ask questions about previous mental health problems, the majority of people who have a history of mental illness will have no problem when they apply for life insurance or for critical-illness cover, except in cases of severe depression or schizophrenia.

Mental health problems do become an issue, however, when applying for income protection insurance.

I wasn’t treated as an individual – Steve Walter’s story, member of Stand to Reason

Steve Walter, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, tried to buy a life insurance policy when remortgaging his house three years ago. After approaching an insurance company for a quote, he found that he would have to pay a hefty loading because of his past mental health history.

The 47-year-old father of two, left, had bipolar disorder diagnosed after two episodes, in 1997 and early 2002. Since then, however, he says that he has fully recovered, with the help of medication, a view supported by his GP. He tried to explain this to the company, to no avail.

Mr Walter says: “These were discreet, isolated experiences and my condition has been effectively managed. However, the insurer increased the premium substantially so I decided not to bother. My doctor even wrote a letter outlining my improvements, but the company disregarded it – I wasn’t treated as an individual, it only considered the label.”

Mr Walter is a health, safety and environmental adviser and is also a member of Stand to Reason, an organisation that fights against discrimination, stigma and stereotyping of people who suffer from mental ill-health.

You can read the full article where Steve’s story appeared in the Times online on 13 March 2008 link The article includes some tips about how to deal with this issue, but please write to us with your experiences, both good and bad in this area and any cases of discrimination, so that we can share your expertise with our members.

Another interesting article on this subject appeared in the Guardian on 11 February 2008 Link

You may also be interested to know that Steve has just published “Fast Train Approaching…” an account of his recovery which you can purchase through Amazon link or from Chipmunk the publisher for £10.00 in paperback. He already has one five-star eview which is reprinted below:

“Breaking down barriers and stigmas – a brave book!, 30 Jun 2007
By M. Mason “Katy” (Kent, UK) – See all my reviews

This book is not for the faint hearted! It is a truthful, graphic and sometimes shocking story of Steve’s breakdown. Intricately documented, it is interwoven with beautiful prose, quotations and poetry, including Steve’s own poems.

For anyone wishing to know more about mental health issues this book shows how easily a breakdown can happen and the fact that no one is infallible. It is an important contribution to the whole subject of mental health issues and the fact that it shouldn’t be an unspoken subject – it should be discussed and understood more and less stigmatised. It isn’t something to be frightened of and people shouldn’t be prejudiced because of fear.

I enjoyed it, it made me think, respect and appreciate!”