A woman from the Eastern Townships has lost her sick leave benefits because of pictures she posted on Facebook.
A year and a half ago she was dignosed with major depression while working at IBM in Bromont, Quebec.
Nathalie Blanchard was receiving monthly benefits from her insurance company, Manulife. When her payments suddenly stopped, she called her insurance company to find out what was going on. Her insurance agent described several pictures she had posted on her Facebook page as proof that she was no longer depressed.
She had posted pictured of herself on a beach holiday, at a Chippendale's bar, and at a birthday party.
Blanchard told CBC she notified Manulife that she was taking a trip, and she's shocked the company would investigate her in such a manner and interpret her photos that way. Manulife told her it's evidence she is no longer depressed. She's fighting to get her benefits reinstated and says her lawyer is exploring what the next step should be.
The Bromont woman says she has privacy protection on her Facebook page and doesn't know how Manulife had access to her page.
Blanchard says she has lost thousands of dollars in benefits since Manulife changed her claim.
Comments
She should not get a penny more, and return the money she has falsely taken. She is a leach, should be treated as such.
I wish I looked that happy when I am depressed!
Pictures of her on a beach and having fun among friends on vacation prove she is 'no longer depressed?' Give me a break!
To those who think she's milking it, try depression on for size for yourself. Have you ever taken medicine for something that made you feel worse? Well, imagine it taking weeks, even months, for an antidepressant to kick in. The adjustment you go through is excruciating!!!
And, after a few months, you do start feeling better, a lot better. Cured? Not by a long shot.
I was on antidepressants for a good six months and was feeling fine. I'd be out with friends too, having fun, enjoying myself. But I WAS STILL CLINICALLY DEPRESSED!
Remember, depression is not a mood, it is a clinical medical term. And, a life threatening illness, just like cancer or heart disease.
How can depression be compared to those two? Easy! When clinically depressed, suicide becomes a viable realistic option.
If I get depressed can I go to the beach?
Well said Robert. Clinical depression becomes manageable with medication and therapy but the public mask worn when you are forced to try and carry on as normal always slips when you are alone. Then, the true feelings and sense of helplessness resurface. Try photographing a true clinically depressed person then!
i suffered a nervous breakdown and was clincally depressed for about a year, i have pictures from over that period where i look totally happy with friends family. i also spend every other moment in the dark, in hospital for suicide attempts. The insurance company who looked into this obviously has no idea about the illness, discusting.
This article is written in a typically liberal fashion as most news stories are these days. The story would look very different if it had been written with a headline to the tune of "Woman is accused of insurance fraud after photos found on Facebook".
Independent of her depression, this is a classically silly move on her part to share photos that could put her claim in doubt. Nothing on the Internet is private, no matter how you mark it.
i hope she made it rain in the strip club with all of the insurance money
1995 I was diagnosed clinically depressed and put on medication. Since then I have not missed more than a week of work due to my condition.Would have been terrific if my insurance had paid me to take vacations to the beach. Truth of the matter is, you might not feel good but you have to want to get better to get better. Sucking the life out of an insurance policy, getting your bills paid and taking trips you otherwise would not be able to afford makes you a leach- not a person that wants to be well and function in society!
Depression is bs, people like the ones below claiming this "illness" is serious blah blah are full of crap. Here's a sentence for you to remember: YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE HAPPY 24/7 THAT = LIFE, it's bs because majority of people "depressed" committing suicide attempts and other bs, are just upset they got dumped, or their ipod broke, no baby comes into this world depressed, it's something people have been leaning on far too much, depression = u had a bad day or want to kill yourself because something bad happened or didn't go your way. I am sick of people using antidepressants and other stupid drugs when in reality they just need to come face to face with the fact that not everyday is going to be sunshine and lollipops.
Depression is bs, people like the ones below claiming this "illness" is serious blah blah are full of crap. Here's a sentence for you to remember: YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE HAPPY 24/7 THAT = LIFE, it's bs because majority of people "depressed" committing suicide attempts and other bs, are just upset they got dumped, or their ipod broke, no baby comes into this world depressed, it's something people have been leaning on far too much, depression = u had a bad day or want to kill yourself because something bad happened or didn't go your way. I am sick of people using antidepressants and other stupid drugs when in reality they just need to come face to face with the fact that not everyday is going to be sunshine and lollipops.
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