Employers & Mental Health

[Night Train]

It is good that you have seen your GP and you are taking her advice. Independent advice is also good and your GP can help you access the therapies and organisations that can help.

I'm not good at direct advice and supportive posts so I will just give you my story.



I had been poorly, for a number of reasons, over the last year of work. After taking odd days off here and there my employer sent me to an OH consultant who gave me a crappy questionaire to answer. From that she determined I wasn't depressed nor anxious so CBT wouldn't help. However at the end of the session she put me forward for a series of CBT sessions at my employer's expense. I couldn't work out why except to waste my employer's money.
My employer's HR dept seemed more concerned that I should keep telling them that it wasn't their fault whenever I was asked. No one wanted to know that they were the root cause of my illnesses. This persisted until my contract ended in May and then no one there seemed to want to know if I was ok anymore.

Last Easter my GP did finally made me take proper time off work by signing me off sick and telling me it was illegal for me to continue working. Whether or not is is I don't know but it got me to stop work. I am still signed off sick and may be for a while longer yet. What I hadn't realised then was that I wasn't coping with the rediculus demands from work and the extra work load I was picking up all the time as my manager's left, one after another over the preceeding years. I was doing 40 hours a week for my contracted 12 paid hours which caused my own cabinet making business to fold last year. My GP caught it a little too late but better late then never.
In not acting on the pressures, and continuing to work despite my GP advising me to stop and take a break and rest, and work not supporting me and also piling on the pressure 'to see if I would go the extra mile', I now find myself far more ill then I have ever been.
I have lost a significant amount of memory specifically relating to my cabinet making knowledge and my teaching experience gained over the last ten years, I have reduced short term memory, I am unable to walk far (was less then 50yds before I fell over but now nearly a half a mile before I have to stop), I have lost the ability to balance due to my brain not knowing where my hands and feet are, almost no ability to sleep and very draining dreams when I do.
I have given up on my MSc course and graduated with only a diploma, for a while I couldn't type easily and wasn't hand writing at all. I have lost commissions for furniture work because I can't emember how to make the furniture.
Looking back, a lot of the initial time off work was down to some of my physical symptoms but also I now realise that I had 'lost it' and was talking gibberish about my subject. At the time I hadn't realised I had lost memory and my mind had started making up stuff to fill in the blanks. It still does but I am more aware that it is doing so.

All the specialist I have spoken to have seperately advised me to get as far away from my previous employer as possible and to never return.
I am taking their advise and concentrating on gradually improving. I am ignoring the advice on constructive dimissal and employment tribunals as that would send me over the edge.

I have been refered to a psychotherapist to work on the memory loss, I am instructed to cycle and walk more to help my brain relearn how to control my limbs and the benefits agency are helping me return to work without pressure. They are offering to help me with support work and or grants for equipment, etc. depending on what I will need at the time and I have an interview to join an Arts on Prescription course designed to help people who have been under severe work stress redevelop their social contacts and creativity throughs arts to help bring them back into a working environment wthout the pressures of work.

Hopefully all this will help me get my memory and hand skills back, if not completely then at least to a point where I can redirect what I have into something I can work with.

I will be going self employed from here onwards as my previous employer is unlikely to give me an acceptable reference as they are already making me a scapegoat for their failings.


Being depressed or anxious is nothing to be ashamed about. It is a human thing, though even machines wear out if they are over worked and not looked after. It is very similar but in a mental rather then physical way.

Make sure that when you are supposed to rest, don't do as I did and figure on using that time to catch up with work when no one is looking. That will only make it worse.
I took to my bike and went on weekend rides, holidays, camping trips and just idle time. But I needed forcing to do that and for that I am eternally grateful to the likes of Arch, bikepete, Gromet, Spandex, etc. as well as other non forum friends.

I hope this helps. I am on the mend, gradually, so it does get better.

 

[ColinJ]

I got so severely stressed and depressed by work that I effectively ended my career at the age of 47 and have been living in debt and near poverty ever since. I keep trying to think of ways to earn a modest living (even £1k/month would do!) but my mind is often a mush and I find it hard to concentrate. (You may well have noticed how often I go off-topic in great depth in someone else's thread!)

I rant from time to time on my forum rides. I'm sure that CycleChatters riding along with me wonder why I'm still complaining about things that happened at work over 20 years ago, but they did a lot of damage. It is hard to invest so much of yourself in something and then have it turn to crap and almost kill you ...

Anyway - good luck 531c and Night Train, and anybody else having problems. It doesn't have to be like this. Things can get better.

 

[BigTam]

If your GP diagnoses you as having depression, then you will most likely be covered under the Disability Discimination Act 1995, your employer is therefore duty bound to make "reasonable adjustments" to help you, this can include altering your hours of attendance, taking away some of your responsibilities on a temporary basis and other measures that will aleviate the stress that you are obviously under, dicuss this with your employer and just clarify what they believe they are obliged to do to aid your recovery.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I have been off work a lot with mental health problems and have had varying responses with various employers. (My current boss is amazing!)

Go to the GP, but also try contacting Mind - they have great advice on how to deal with the whole work issue.
Hope you get the help you need (make sure they don't just go "yes yes" and give you anti-depressents - they'll do nothing for the anxiety - ) and that you see an occupational therapist

 

[ttcycle]

Another hand up for having dealt with this issue.

You're not alone in this and it's good that you've started the process off by going to your GP.

To qualify for your depression to be considered as a disability and to fall under legislation- it has to be an enduring condition that has been present for 3 months or more...you'll need medical certificates or at least of record of this ie going to your GP.

If you do take any time off- make sure you have a sick note; without out one it can cause issues...and having one helps with statutory sick pay- in fact I think you need one for SSP. If you need any adjustments made at work to change your health (and it seems that there are some factors at work affecting your mental health) then you'll need medical back up evidence so keep that in mind - your GP will be the first port of call for this but save any letters etc if you get referred to specialists.

My personal experience is that I've had mixed results from employers when I've declared depression and anxiety as long term conditions. I would never go to Mind, they used to be my employers and screwed me over on mental heath issues but I also recognise that they can have some useful advice. I think once you start to look at the patterns and the type of work that you do etc you''ll get better at realising what those triggers are that get you a bit squiffy.

I found for me CBT never really helped

For me, I feel passionate about my work and give a lot of time and energy to it - I work in bursts and often wear myself out and I need to be very productive all the time. If you read the ping fellow depressives post- I went through a really hard patch and it went on and on and on for ages and it's only really cleared right now after being out the country for 6 weeks.

Firstly, I must say - do not feel ashamed about mental health - I know it's complex- some on here will tell you conversations I've had with them where I cannot stand the fact that I've cancelled a ride with them, ducked out of something or just cannot do something or be my usual high output, high achieving self when I feel badly depressed. My memory gets like a sponge, my concentration dries up, have trouble finishing sentences and simple daily tasks, I get all teary, emotional and find it hard to cope with the smallest things and at the worst have felt darkly suicidal and not been able to leave the bed for weeks. There's no magic formula - we're all different as people but for me, talking to professionals- loved ones, friends on here, and in the real world and just actually learning to give myself a break and ultimately pulling myself away from my usual life and having time and space to breathe, think and live have really helped. I've got nothing to feel bad about with mental health be open about it, if someone gives you a hard time or judges you- then it's their issue and not yours.
I accept sometimes it may return but I can and do deal with it, I'm learning to look after myself and not drive myself too hard. The figuring out side may take a few years but it's good to have insight and 'know myself'.

Good luck with getting back on track and feel free to post up here - knowing you're not alone and trying to dig out of that isolation is a good start.

 

[ColinJ]

I would never go to Mind, they used to be my employers and screwed me over on mental heath issues ...

Flipping heck - that's not on!

 

[ttcycle]

Live and learn.That's all I'll say on the matter.

 

[coffeejo]

A friend of mine with bi-polar had similar issues with Mind as an employee, but my local Mind were fantastic and incredibly helpful, supportive and effective when I had to go to my last of ESA interviews.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Live and learn.That's all I'll say on the matter.

Could you inbox me, possibly. I am a fundraiser for them, but don't want to bother if they don't practice what they preach.

 

[ColinJ]

Could you inbox me, possibly. I am a fundraiser for them, but don't want to bother if they don't practice what they preach.

They still do a lot of good work, even if they got it wrong as an employer in ttc's case. A friend of mine has put in over 100 hours as a volunteer for Mind and was very warmly thanked recently by a man who'd spent an hour talking to her about his problems.

 

[ttcycle]

They work on a federal system- each Mind is run seperately.

Staff there do a stellar job for people who use their services - a lot of committed people and I wouldn't take away from that so it really depends on the local Mind- they're all different.

Anyway, totally off topic!

 

[Andrew_P]

As an aside a found hypnothearpy/meditation really good for the anxiety/stress.

I know exactly how you feel about employers and the reality is that the employment law has to be followed but it cannot change perception. Although as you can see from replies here you are not alone, and it is likely your management may well have had a problem or know someone who has.

Working from home is not what it is cracked up to be, no clear lines set out

 

[ijm770]

My first post here, but have had some similar sounding issues as you 531c, so thought I may add my thoughts..

First of all well done for going to see you doctor, I found it very hard at first, helps if you get one you can talk to and a sympathetic ear.

I have been off work a couple of times this year with depression and anxiety, currently been off nearly 6 months, I'm due to go back next month .

My doc prescribed meds for both depression and anxiety, former has taken quite a while to kick in, the beta blockers worked pretty quickly and were a real benefit.

Workwise you'll need as other posters have said a sick line for anything over 5 days, your doc will evaluate you and see how long he/she reckons you need to be signed off work for. The sick line will include what you are being signed off work with, the doctor will probably ask what you feel should be put on it.

Occupational Health at your work may get in contact with you if you have been off work for a certain amount of time ( in my case it was after when I'd been off for about a month ) and arrange a meeting. They should be independent of work and you will probably be seen by another doctor, they will chat to you and then pass on their recommendations to your work. This may be that you need further time off to rest or for your medication and/or CBT to have an effect. They may chat to you about returning to work on a phased return; working reduced hours, half days say over a period of time or on lighter duties perhaps. They are basically on your side, trying to help you as best possible in order for you to get back to work.

Sometimes it is good to take a break, in my case it has helped, unfortunately I havent been able to get out on the bike much because of a back injury, I feel cycling would definately have helped in my recovery. But its better now and hopefully I'll be out soon.

There are also a few websites out there that can help, Im not sure if I can mention them in this post?

Good luck, all the best.

 

[ttcycle]

Yep feel free to link to them - CC doesn't allow self promotional advertising but links that might help a forummer are fine - the site rules are at the bottom of the page on the right hand side if you want to have a quick glance.

Welcome to CC btw!

 

[trio25]

Well Done for going to see your GP, it is an important and hopefully useful step.

I had over a year off work with Depression and originally the Dr wrote something else on the sick notes, debility I think as that can cover anything. The hope was a couple of weeks and I could go back to work although it never happened that way.

My life is very different now I work a lot less hours in a job that is a lot less demanding but that I enjoy and I commute to work by bike which probably makes the biggest difference.

Hope you have managed to find some time for yourself over Christmas.