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An amendment to give people with depression greater protection against discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has been passed, writes Amy Taylor.

The amendment, which was made to the Disability Discrimination Bill in its report stage in the House of Lords, will mean that the effect of depression is seen as a long-term effect under the act in certain circumstances and increase sufferer’s protection.

Lord Skelmersdale, who tabled the amendment, said that said that the change was required as people who have recovered from a bout of depression regularly found themselves unable to get paid work because of discrimination.

The act states that where an impairment ceases to have a substantial adverse effect on a person’s life it is to be treated as continuing to have that effect if the effect is likely to recur. But Skelmersdale said that depression was not necessarily likely to recur as it did not usually have any underlying conditions and therefore it was excluded from the definition.

The amendment changes the definition to state that depression that has ceased to have a substantial effect on people’s ability to carry out day to day functions should always be treated as if it is likely to recur if the person has had a previous episode of depression at this level for six months or more within the last five years.

The bill has its third reading in the Lords on February 28th.