THIS is my response to articles seen in the national press about those of us who are signed off and deemed unfit for work.

These articles are malicious in their intent on labelling us as work shirking and a burden on society, nothing is further from the truth.

We do not choose to have mental health issues and we do not choose to live on benefits.

It allows us to survive, in this society where the finger of suspicion and blame is now being regularly and willingly pointed at us.

We do not wish to not work, our mental/physical health is genuinely so bad to the point where we cannot properly function like everyone else.

The government's very cruel attempt to minimalise how seriously mental health affects our day to day lives, it is not our choice to have these issues, instead of empathy and a want to understand we are instead faced with a government intent on targeting and vilifying us, stating clearly they view us as a burden.

LEWIS BULL

Weymouth