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How I was labelled unfit for work
Posted Thursday 12 May 2011
This is the first in a series of guest blogs on mental health at work, part of our Taking care of business campaign.
Imagine that 4 years ago you were off work for a number of weeks with a heart condition. Since that time you have been on medication to keep any further problems under control but you have not had a day off through illness. There have been no issues with your work or interactions with colleagues and everything is going well.
Then, in the office one day you show symptoms which could be a sign of a reoccurrence of your condition and are asked to see you specialist to confirm there is no risk to your health by you remaining at work. Your specialist is confident that you are okay and sees no reason why you should not continue to work.
Now imagine that all of the above remains the same but rather than a heart condition you suffer from depression.
Why should a depressive episode in the past be treated any differently to other health conditions? I accept that there is still a lack of understanding by many as to what impact a mental health condition has and it is better to be safe than sorry with regards to your long-term health. However, if a Consultant Psychiatrist who has treated you for 4 years is satisfied that you are fit to work there seems no logical reason for your employer to go against that advice.
However, this is just what has happened to me. External pressures had made me stressed at work and in anyone else it would have been seen as just that (stress) and could probably have been sorted out by an informal chat over a coffee. In my case I was asked to leave the office pending a full report from my consultant and in the mean time I was required to visit an ‘independent’ psychologist to assess my suitability for my role. That was 6 months ago. Since then 2 additional reports have been requested from my consultant (who each time has confirmed I am fit to work) but a decision as to my future seems no closer.
Anyone who has suffered from depression knows that whilst avoiding social contact is the easy option at times, such interactions help to lift your mood as you don’t spend hours dwelling on negative thoughts. Not working but remaining employed has meant I can’t go away and instead I sit around on my own for hours on end. Added to that is the feeling of hopelessness having been taken out of a role I enjoyed simply because a mental illness is seen as a weakness and in some way lessens my effectiveness within the team.
I have no doubt that campaigns such as Time to Change will eventually remove some of the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Until that time I feel forced to avoid disclosing my full medical history to future employers for fear of another over-reaction based on a lack of understanding.
Emma C. (Not her real name)
7 Comments
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They are trying to get rid of you. Whats happening mirrors exactly how I was pushed out of nursing. Depression, occupational health, GP signing fit to return, back to occupational health, demoted, no work for those who need 'supervision' finally a breakdown and dismissal.
Please Emma take these people to an employment tribunal NOW, or this will go on and on and they will find a way of sacking you, demoting you or making life so hard you are forced to leave. You MUST fight back for the sake of your mental health, please don't end up like me.
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Good piece, thank you. If compassion was at the heart of everyday interaction things like this wouldn't happen.
"Anyone who has suffered from depression knows that whilst avoiding social contact is the easy option at times, such interactions help to lift your mood as you don’t spend hours dwelling on negative thoughts."
A common misconception. For reactive depression (for example, that caused by prolonged abuse), a low mood is often the sign of repressed emotions that need to be explored and expressed, often actually necessitating more time alone. The important thing is working out what's right for you personally.
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I Know it is of no comfort to you that i went through exactly the same and the pressure of the unkown exasperating to a dedicated worker.In my case i had been on a 10 year hormone tratment and on its cessation wae emotional and weepy had 8 weeks off work and was signed fit for work by my GP and consultant but at my return to work meeting was told by the service manager a non medic i was suspended pending reports as my fitness to practice.While suspended i was conduct suspeded for discussing my problems with a friend. i was a therapist working for an abuse agency which beggars belief. I appointed a solicitor and had a compromise they are trying to get rid of you
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i know that my company are trying to prove that i'm not capable of doing my job using my production level... ie time off has reduced it down to a level where i'm at risk of losing my job... i'm now off again and to tell you the truth i don't want to go back as the stress of it all will make me ill again.... next step is a verbal warning but i am on the verge of walking out... i can see medical retirement on the card... their choice not mine but i don't want to work there anymore anyway.i am past caring now.
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Hi Nicola, Sorry to read about what is happening with you - I hope you're ok and will speak with your friends or family to get support, if you are able. You could also speak to the Mind infoline - they can help you find some help near you - info@mind.org.uk. There is some useful information about support and your rights here: http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/need-support/where-do-i-stand-legally Take care.
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I feel empathy with you all.
Having lived with severe anxiety for the past 10 years, I'm about to leave for another interview. I'm not worried about the work, more the questions that will be asked about the gaps in my CV (when I have been in therapy or hospital).
On the one hand, I wouldn't want to work anywhere where I felt I could not be open about my past, but it's actually getting in somewhere again that I'm struggling with!
I believe that openness is the best policy but finding a potential employer who really is accepting is becoming an issue in itself.
It doesn't seem to matter that I'm a well qualified professional. -
This rings so many bells with my experience. After time off with depression prior to working for my current employer, but that Occupational Health were aware of when I applied & cleared me as fit, I had no depression-related time off for 5-6yrs. 2yrs into a bullying campaign I took time off, certificated by my GP as 'work-related stress'; & my GP remains adamant "but they've done this to you".
After a further year, and 10 months after my manager had promised the bullying situation would be brought to a conclusion within 3 months (& documented that the ongoing health damage was recognised and "X agreed to absorb these effects for the 3 months"), I was suddenly suspended for "urgent psychiatric assessment" after asking not to be left alone in a room with one of the bullying perpetrators during a study day.
A 5 month wait ensued whilst 1st my manager blocked releasing of her questions to a specialist by Occ Health, and then, after Occ Health cleared me as fit, a further 6 week delay. Occ Health subsequently told me that during this 6 weeks my manager visited them asking them to change their report to ill-health retirement and, when they refused, telling them she'd "find another way to do it" and that she'd find a way to refer me to the NMC (yes, like Linda I'm a nurse - the caring profession). I've now been put on a placement to "prove my competency" that has ignored Occ Health advice & restricts my access to healthcare.
Unfortunately, I've jumped through the 1st 2 hoops they set "without a whisper of any problems"(my mentor), so now they've now added another one. I dread going into work each shift wondering what they'll do next, but recession/local NHS set-up leaves me trapped.
My mental health is now far worse than prior to these events. However, my history means my employer is determined to document everything as an effect of my underlying condition, rather than long-term stress/bullying.
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