At rock bottom and being crushed by the system

“Another 100,000 Scots look set to lose all or part of their disability allowance when next year’s £25 billion of Tory cuts kick in.”

Much has been said and written in recent weeks about the issue of depression.

Sadly it took the suicide of Hollywood icon Robin Williams to bring this misunderstood subject back to the table.

Of course, he was a celebrity example of a tortured soul, but we should not forget the millions of ordinary people whose lives are also blighted by depression. Normal Joes who won’t have reams of paper eulogising them.

They are the unkowns who struggle in silence to live their lives, weighed down by low self-esteem and worry. People so distressed and burdened with guilt that they tragically look for release in the most extreme of ways.

People like Gary a close member of my extended family.

Gary was once married and has two lovely children. He had his own business, two homes, two cars and a van. Like most dads he and his family would go on holiday together, celebrate birthdays and sit round the table, pulling crackers and stuffing his face at Christmas. Life couldn’t be better!

Then slowly, as the recession reared its ugly head the Black Dog crept in and Gary found his normal life spiralling out of control.

His marriage collapsed, as did his business. His homes were repossessed and his visits to his children restricted. His doctor didn’t want to know and he’d be sent on his way with a new batch of anti-depressants to try out.

None worked. Indeed most would make his confusion and distress worse. His head would buzz, he couldn’t concentrate for any length of time on any one subject and would wander off or just sit staring into the void unable to comprehend what was happening to him or why.

He couldn’t communicate with anyone and would break down weeping with rage when any question was asked of him.

The toll this had on his family was severe, especially when he tried to commit suicide.

As for the way he was treated by the Department of Work and Pensions when he applied and was turned down for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) the words ‘disgraceful’ and ‘appalling’ don’t even come close.

I’m still in shock at the way they came to their decision and the way they have since justified it.

They said he was ineligible for ELA because he could walk more than 50 metres, climb more than two steps, that he could talk as he answered questions, that he could see and hear properly, that he could carry out basic tasks and manoeuvres.

They acknowledged in their Mandatory Reconsideration Notice (an appeal) that he was severely depressed, that he was suicidal at times and a danger not only to himself but others. They accepted his brain was fuzzy and full of pins and needles. They agreed he couldn’t concentrate or work but they stubbornly upheld their original ruling.

What was it they didn’t get? Why were they being so uncaring? Not everyone is a scammer, not everyone is bending the system the majority are bone fide claimants in need of help. How the hell was Gary ever to get better when those in charge of looking after his welfare were doing anything but?

To cap it all off, on his return to a newly-found unfurnished council flat a letter had arrived saying that he would now have to pay bedroom tax for his spare room. He had only moved in that week!

I’m happy to report that Gary is still with us and his family are doing what they can for him, including paying for a lawyer to represent him at his next appeal.

He is still on strong medication, still as confused as ever and still sadly suffering from severe depression. But he is now having good days as well as bad, though I doubt he will ever work again.

As for the uncaring DWP, and in particular Ian Duncan Smith, my disgust and hatred of them has now risen to a whole new level.

It seems Gary is not alone. Another 100,000 Scots look set to lose all or part of their disability allowance when next year’s £25 billion of Tory cuts kick in.

So if you ever needed a reason to vote YES then surely the repugnant attacks on people like Gary who already on welfare or in desperate need of help is it.