Thread: Mental health, professionalism & social networking

Recently there has been a debate about the chasm between being yourself, social networking and professionalism. There have been other threads on here about social networking and professionalism, so I wont go into that. I want to specifically talk about mental health.

If you have mental health issues, and these come out on social networking sites that you use under your performance name, how might this affect your professional reputation?

If you represent yourself "negatively" online and so forth, because of mental health issues, and thus do not get booked, is this discrimination (assuming everyone knows about your problems)?

Is professionalism repressive and false? Or necessary for a functional work environment? Should we be able to express more of the "real" us and still remain viable for booking?

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In my opinion, professionalism should be just that. It should reflect on the nature or honesty of the person involved. As far as social networking, how 'un-professional' would it be for someone who has hired you through a social network or however and then have it come out during the job that you have a problem or condition that would exempt you from doing that job (I'm thinking epilepsy and flash photography) on safety grounds.
It is a dilema. I know models, yes, and burlesque performers who have 'issues'.
Have these issues affected their ability to get work? Definitely yes. Should they have kept quiet about their issues? Which answer is professional, yes or no?
Ok, lets start this rolling. I am a photographer who has photographed a few burlesque performers. I have mental health issues. Nothing to cause a danger to either myself or anyone I work with. Should I inform anyone I am going to work with? Or not?
I will say this, my own experiences will lead me to say that if anyone on here has had difficulty with photographers or even just having photographs done, contact me. It is my policy to never turn down anyone for any 'issues' be they mental or whatever. I figure its my place to overcome whatever needs to be addressed and get the job done!
Now thats professionalism.