Author Topic: Mental Health Folk and Work  (Read 4932 times)

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Offline Terri

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Mental Health Folk and Work
« on: January 16, 2012, 04:27:57 PM »
I had quite a productive meeting with a recovery practitioner today. As a result, I'm going to be doing some voluntary work at the MH centre (admin stuff) and working towards doing a 15 mile sponsored walk for the local hospice (:oo:). He's also referred me to someone who helps get people back into work and liaises with employers once they have a position.


I can see why he would think I need such a service, as work does tend to be my downfall and having someone supporting me when I'm in work could be helpful, but I'm still a little wary. It means I would have to be totally honest with my employer and that's scary. I like to keep my MH under wraps as much as possible, but this would mean having it all in the open (with my manager, at least).


Has anyone else got any experience of having someone as a kind of "go between" for them and the employer? Advice welcome. 
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Offline howling

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2012, 05:11:31 PM »
sorry i dont have experience of that nature so cant help you with that, however i think it sounds like a great idea and could do with something like that myself. i have been very fortunate and have understanding managers at work who are supportive. i thort im not going to be ashamed about my illness and so told my colleagues too. was very scary as i didnt know what their reactions would be but overall its been positive. i hope whatever you choose to do comes out good for you.
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Offline bernie

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2012, 06:54:45 PM »
Hi yes i see an employment counsellor from the Richmond Fellowship which is in  Merseyside. I don't think they have that many offices. Anyway i was referred to her from my work when I was susp from work. She is there to help me as I have m/h problems to either stay in work or get back to work or now as the case may be find work. She has been good better than the m/h team. She seems more organised, she writes down what we discuss and tries to come up with some sort of plan or procedures that i can do. She isn't a m/h practitioner though and when I went over board on s/h and told her she said that was not her role. She made me do a risk assessment and wrote down who I should see/ring etc which I suppose is quite usuful. She is always sending me information web links for things she thinks will be useful. the mht don't write anythink down, so often ask me the same stuff bec they've forgotten, all the counsellors get muddled on what is going on, even though it is all supposed to be on the computer, and even if I leave messages, they don't get them or they don't read the computer before they see me - very disorganised. Any way even if you dont have the same support there should be something similar where you live. maybe go on the web and try and find out. Good luck Bernei

Offline hidden tears

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2012, 07:35:35 PM »
It's not quite the same, but when I had a job occ health acted as a "go between" for me and my manager. When I went through a rubbish patch it enabled me to drop my hours, and then after ~6weeks of sick facilitate a phased return (started on two short days and worked up to 4 normal days) as well as my manager being aware of my difficulties and able to offer me support if I was struggling at work/needed a break etc. Without that support I would probably have ended up quitting. It was only my manager that had to know what was going on. A couple of my more perceptive colleagues worked it out, but really great about it and just wanted to support me. I was lucky that occ health were really good with my mh issues, I would imagine that someone who works with those with mh issues and can liaise with employers would be doing a more specialised version of that role.

I know you like to keep mh stuff "under the covers", but realistically in the past this hasn't worked for you, and means that as soon as you run into difficulties so as not to have to talk to work you quit. Surely its worth trying a different tactic, and being more open with people, both now and if things start getting tricky so that you can be supported to keep your job (even if you need to have time off sick). It might make your life a bit more consistent if when you hit a rocky patch you were able to take however long you needed off sick but were then able to return to the same job, without the whole job seeking/worrying about telling people about mh issues etc??

Also like howling said....mh issues are nothing to be ashamed of. You didn't choose to be unwell, just like people dont choose to get cancer. You deserve the help and support to get you back to/keep you at work hun  :hug1:



 
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Offline bernie

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2012, 09:10:13 AM »
just want to come back on HT's post.Sorry Terri for hijacking your post. i would have been given the same occ health help but when i asked I was told 'they were on holiday' so got referred to RF. When i did see Occ health doctor he didn't know what they meant, I think some admin people were off but should have been referred to them.don't know this was a ploy by management as why refer so for mh reasons on losing keeping their job when at the time I still had one. When i did see the occ health doctor I asked for my medical details to be kept confidential, meaning from other staff, not the managers. He misinterpreted this so didn't put a diagnosis on my file just said I was 'seriously ill' which could mean anything! And although RF have been vgood they do not relay back to work as it was all confidential so management did not know how I was medically, and did not till my hearing when I put forward doctors notes/reports etc. It must be the first time so has pleaded 'insanity' to regain their job. Either this is a good idea or mental - ha ha.

Offline Terri

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2012, 04:53:54 PM »
Thank you for the thoughtful replies. :hug2:



Quote
I know you like to keep mh stuff "under the covers", but realistically in the past this hasn't worked for you, and means that as soon as you run into difficulties so as not to have to talk to work you quit. Surely its worth trying a different tactic, and being more open with people, both now and if things start getting tricky so that you can be supported to keep your job (even if you need to have time off sick). It might make your life a bit more consistent if when you hit a rocky patch you were able to take however long you needed off sick but were then able to return to the same job, without the whole job seeking/worrying about telling people about mh issues etc


I think this is pretty spot on. I've had and left so many positions because of my mental health. It's no good for me or prospective employers - consistency would be good.


I'll give it a go. I guess it'll be a bit uncomfortable to start with, but will get easier with time...
Chief :smurf: Pry Master.


And hope and grace were all I needed.

This isn't everything you are.

Offline howling

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2012, 05:05:31 PM »
its given some things to think about. whatever decision you make, it needs to be the right one for you. i know my life has been made easier by having it out in the open. dont get me wrong, im selective with who i tell but on the whole it has been positive. good luck! xx
" You cannot do a kindness too soon,for you never know how soon it will be too late."

Osiris

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Re: Mental Health Folk and Work
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2012, 11:18:49 AM »
I also think hidden tears was totally spot on. Remember Terri, that just because people know some things about your problems doesn't mean they have to know everything - you don't have to go into every detail of the things you've experienced, just outline it. You can have support in this way and retain much of your privacy; it doesn't have to be either/or.
« Last Edit: January 18, 2012, 11:21:58 AM by Osiris »