Ask Anything Monday!

Hi everyone!

Happy Monday.

What a busy week we had in here last week. A big shout out to @500bluebirds @Shaz51 @cg02020 @BamBam @Drac0 @PeppiPatty @Peter_Pan78 @Vicki @Jaz3 @Robertmelbourne and @Happy_Valley for all the contribution to the lively discussion.

This week's question is:

Are there organisations which have implemented a mental health strategy/HR structure to support people returning back to the workplace?

I’ve found that even in volunteer roles, though manager’s might be well meaning - they don’t really understand the meaning of supporting the person.

For example I recently volunteered and said I was returning to work and needed to manage my mental illness and they in turn changed my job description, did not consult me when they wanted to change things in my role, tried to encourage me to take on extra duties - I ended up spending so much time pushing back on mgt and got behind on my tasks that I got sick again. It was exhausting.

Though their heart was in right place, they did not have the infrastructure to manage a return back to work intern.

I’m beginning to lose hope I will work again - if I can’t even get the support as a volunteer in an organisation that works with charities (they are not the first not for profit that has done this to me) what hope do I have..

Hi, I don't think many organisations that i have come across handle return to work transitions for people with mental or physical illness, let alone both. At a very stressful and vulnerable time attempts to get back to work and not be supported appropriately can have devasting impact on confidence and wellness. Sorry to hear you have experienced this struggle. I would look to gain support through a specialist agency if starting new work, but if returning to an existing job seeking out an experienced HR person or manager who exhibits empathy as a character (if you can find one) and try a collaborative approach (yep there is that word again, i use it a lot as it seems sadly lacking at times) about how personal and organisational needs can be best met. It is too easy to retreat or become adversarial and both of those things are not going to be helpful in my experience.

As a prolific 'cryer' I could relate, sure I could have watered a few gardens over the years. Agree with other posts, writing has helped me, sometimes I do that before a session when I am really feeling scattered, to gather my thoughts and help me clarify what I want to talk about/what I am feeling. I also wish there was better art therapy programme availability with skilled practitioners linked to reputable organisations. Art therapy can be a great tool when being verbal is a struggle. It appears to be only available in inpatient programmes in some places.

I think thats a bit tricky... depends much more on your immediate boss often I think. For instance someone who went back to work at aprevious work place after a 'nervous break down' was really supported by the boss there, started back off with less time, duties and meetings etc and slowly built back up over a term. But other people have just been substantatively dropped back from their permanent full time positions to a permananent decrease in time if they stated that they couldnt currently cope with work load pressures. Which for me has put me off asking for anything, becuase i dont want to be deemed as unable to do my job - but also just clinging on day to day.

There is an employee assistance line available for counselling, but your site manager is told that you've used it, though not the details of why in this department. But again i've seen that used for and against people, on a personell group that i was part of one person was labelled a 'whinger' for using the line even though we had no idea what they had even used the line for!!

LJ

@Former-Memberit's terrible that a support line like that can be used in such a way. I would have thought it would be totally confidential, no-one should know you called.

I read an article not so long ago on the issue of management and mental health. Can't remember where. It was basically discussing how in small to medium sized organisations the managers & HR staff are expected to deal with MI without the training to do so. Some larger companies have qualified staff to deal with the issue, but often it is left for others to try & provide the support given.

It's a difficult situation. Most businesses can't afford to be paying counsellors, psychologists & therapists. That leaves it to others to try & decide what's best and usually they have no idea. Sadly that's not going to change too soon.

Take care.

Wow, talk about timely.

Came across this article posted today on news.com.au on this very subject. Sadly it seems to be hidden away a little, along with other related articles. It's part of a series they have recently got going in partnership with beyondblue. I actually had to search the site to find other stories in the series using 'beyondblue' or 'minds at work' as the search terms. It's all buried in the finance section.

It discusses Aaron Roach who has BPD and what happened when he took a gamble in revealing this to a prospective new employer. The full article can be found here.

The page also links to a site called Heads Up which is all about mental health in the workplace. The site is for both employers and emplyees with sections discussing getting mental health plans in place to your mental health at work & dealing with other workers with a mental illness.

All very relevant to this weeks topic.

Take care all.

Wow , it is tricky @Drac0, @NikNik, @Former-Member, @cg02020, @PeppiPatty, have to thinkabout it and come back

Hello everyone ,

It's a difficult situation. Most businesses can't afford to be paying counsellors, psychologists & therapists. That leaves it to others to try & decide what's best and usually they have no idea. Sadly that's not going to change too soon.

this is soo true

Although its not directly addressing or solving your issue with management, I had an amazing volunteer experience in a role that I knew would be super easy and enjoyable and wouldnt create too much anxiety, where I didnt feel the need to mention a single word to supervisors about my mental health issues. (This was after 4 or 5 disasterous attempts at other volunteer roles where I had either disclosed too much information, or not enough...)

At this particular event I was able to completely forget about my anxiety and mental health issues for a few hours per day for the 6 or so shifts I worked over a two week period, and remember what it was like to feel comfortable and capable at work. Because it was a one off event, many of the wide range of different types 100+ volunteers were most likely as nervous as each other.

I gained HEAPS of confidence from this experience, and even felt positive enough afterwards to start believing in the chance of returning to paid work one day.

However I am also still concerned for the future about the issue you have mentioned, and hoping that when the time comes an understanding employer will come along, OR instead considering the fact that perhaps i can no longer (or for the time being) work in the high pressure jobs i once thrived on, and that a switch to something slower, something with less pressure, something more free and creative, and perhaps even something working as my own boss - is actually a change for the better anyway.

I hope this helps a little. Best wishes.