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I can't see into the future
Posted Monday 19 December 2011
Even sympathetic employers sometimes find it hard to understand mental health problems. This guest blog vividly illustrates some of the barriers to disclosing a mental health problem at work, on the same day Mind and the CIPD release new guidance for employers.
Here’s the thing. I have a complex mental condition. Here’s the other thing. I have worked in a challenging and responsible job since 2002. My caseload includes a number of clients with the same mental health disorder as me.
So when I was assessed and finally diagnosed just 10 months ago, I decided that I would be open and honest with my employers about the nature of my ‘issues’. Given that I had taken considerable time off since 2007, as I struggled with what then was an unknown problem, I believed that this would be the most productive way forward.
I had had experience of trying to mask periods of emotional instability from previous employers – helped, no doubt by the uncertainty of medical professionals who were led to believe that my ability to hold down responsible jobs meant that I couldn’t possibly be suffering a complex mental health condition.
I have been open with my line manager throughout the period of uncertainty about my diagnosis to the final conclusion and have found that, on an individual level both my manager and my colleagues have been willing to learn and try to understand my condition and how it affects my work.
However, the sickness absence procedures themselves are applied as a one-size-fits-all solution to long-term sickness, regardless of the intrinsic differences between physical and emotional and mental illnesses. I don’t think a senior manager would ask someone with cancer, “a year ago you told us the chemo would work, so why have you gone off again and are now telling us that you need radiotherapy?”
Unfortunately, having remained at work for eight months following a difficult period, when my initial treatment failed, I was signed off again and I was asked by the senior manager why the first treatment I had tried had not worked and was asked “what guarantee do we have that the new treatment they are suggesting will work and that you will not be signed off again?”
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but even the most highly regarded medical training does not include crystal ball reading, I believe that’s only on offer at Hogwarts!
However, such questions betray an underlying suspicion, or even prejudice, about mental illness, and that is: it’s all in my head! If you don’t fit neatly into the procedures, which again and again, I am told are there to support me in remaining in work, then employers seem to waver between wanting to help, and threatening me with capability procedures.
So how do they deal with the paradox of the worker with mental illness whose work is characterised as ‘excellent’? In the present climate the pressure not to disclose mental health issues will grow, but how can we educate employers to view those with mental health problems in the same way that they view physical health problems?
Anonymous
Our guest blogger experienced her first episode of mental illness at university. After graduation she travelled and worked for charities in Africa, before returning to England to work as a teacher and probation officer.
Over the last several years she has experienced ongoing mental health problems, and was finally diagnosed in 2011 with borderline personality disorder.
17 Comments
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If you are meant to be helping people with similar disorders don't you think it is a little selfish to take so much time off work? Shouldn't you resign and allow someone with the mental and physical stamina for the hours take over the task? Or seek a part-time/voluntary post in the same area of work with fewer stressors for yourself, and less long waiting lists for those suffering like yourself?
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Unfortunately for most people with mental health problems, youre rarely even CONSIDERED for a job placement, you barely get past interview stages. I wouldn't take on such a responsible job because I know people would rely on me and my mental illness makes me unreliable. Just saying. You're one of the lucky ones.
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Referring to the above comment, why should she allow her mental illness to rule her life?
Although I do agree, BPDs do require a lot of stability and support and if you're taking a lot of time off work surely it's not beneficial to your clients? -
Well done for sharing that with is. I also work in mental health and have BPD. It helps me to see inside people I work with and work well with them. I have also been a member of the services with huge responsibility.
The person who mentioned being selfish should be ashamed, insight is wonderful and helps more than treatment. UBS
Education creates understanding and recovery.
I have been overlooked and pushed into resignation by those who are ignorant of it. Shallow people seem to have the say......
How many BPD are successful ? -
Quite a lack of sympathy from the previous comments, I think the blogger has a valid point. A lot of companies have adopted extremely strict sickness policies, which have no regard for mental health problems. If the blogger's work is classed as 'excellent' I can't see why the condition would affect this. As she has stated, she might need time off, but are there colleagues who can cover in her absence? I don't believe this would be an issue if it was something like cancer, or a chronic condition like IBS. These sickness policies are designed only to penalise people and are discriminatory to those with mental health problems.
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Would you say that to an oncologist with cancer Klunkler-Bostecker Procession?
Part-time work might not pay the mortage/rent/bills or even be available and voluntary work would mean being on benefits which are very hard and stressful to acquire and hold onto because even people with terminal or degenerative conditions are being found fit for work by quasi medicals. Voluntary work on benefits to maintain mental health stability is no longer allowed and is also called selfish and weak. You have to work or be comatose now, services and welfare are very black and white. Most people cannot afford to work part-time and working tax credits are not available to everyone unless you have dependents or are already on some level of DLA.
Once you have a known psychiatric history [to employers] you have a better chance of getting a job with a criminal record. -
what this blog demonstrates is that the biggest discrimination is within the health service itself [as well as government], but this will never be addressed because too much depends on not addressing it.
PD is viewed as being effectively the individuals fault, and when they don't respond to treatment it's their fault. Whereas with psychosis failure to respond to treatment is viewed as 'treatment resistant' because those recalcitrant brain chemicals just need the 'right' drug.
Both positions are utterly f*****! -
Employers don't give a toss about people's mental health, they simply want people who can deliver consistently however they feel and no amount of nice adverts and pamphlets will change that
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I have a boss who is very laid back in many ways, and even after I took the best part of a year off during a really bad spell with my mental health, I was welcomed back and given just how many shifts and hours I felt I could manage. Sadly, not everyone's employer is like this.
But it's not just employers, it's people in general - many are filled with prejudice about people with mental health problems. They will say things like "Stop whining and go back to work", or "You're just sponging all those benefits for an illness that doesn't even exist". I've had all this stuff before from people who don't understand - and, worse still, have no intention of even trying to understand.
A large cross section of society has an absolutely disgusting view of people with mental health issues, and some of the comments I get make me almost ashamed to call myself human.
Sufferers just have to remember that they're ten times the person anyone coming out with such nonsense could ever hope to be, and that it's the ones who DO care and try to help who are the only people that matter.
Don't listen to the people who are telling you that you shouldn't be in whatever job you're in just because of your mental health. Would they say that to someone who couldn't walk just because they were in a wheelchair? Maybe, but their comments would be just as worthless in that case as they are in this.
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Most sickness policies are very strict to the point of being discriminatory, you can have 6 months continuous absence and it only count as one sickness absence yet if you have several short periods of illness you trigger a HR conversation/letter. Most sickness policies are unjust to people who genuinely want to work but are also genuinely unwell. I know a colleague who was put back on probation due to sickness and her record wasn't even that bad in my opinion.
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Interesting article, but don't be mistaken about people with physical ilness being treated differently. I worked with a colleague who when she emailed her manager so say she has to go and see an oncologist, he emailed back rather insensitively 'what's an oncologist'! Another manager said to me 'why is she still banging on about cancer, it's 3 years since she had it' with comments like that i decided to keep my mental illness to myself :(
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BPD predjudices are everywhere - often worst in mental health and medical professionals themselves I have found. I have yet to even finish my education but I am hoping to be well enough in a few more years time to take on a very responsible job. Blogger - the fact you have done so well is an inspiration to me. Keep up the good work.
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In reply to Klunkler-Bostecker Procession and Jenn, there is of course a need to consider all aspects of the impact of the job on my condition and vice and versa and, indeed I do feel keenly the responsibility to serve my clients consistently and conscientiously.
However, along with my employers I have used my knowledge and experience of my condition and how it affects my life to help a large number of clients over the years. I have provided advice and training to other staff working with those with BPD and have been actively involved in working with managers to seek better access to local mental health teams for our clients.
When I have been in work my appraisals have frequently characterised all aspects of my work and service to my clients as 'excellent'. However, both comments reflect my own concerns at the moment - my condition can either be a bonus to my clients and employers or be a burden.
The question is does a mental health condition prevent me from serving to the best of my ability? Answer, not all the time. Another question is how many employees who have no long term physical or mental health conditions serve to 100% capacity 100% of the time?
Ultimately, managers need to consider whether they would rather have an average employee 80-90% of the time or an excellent employee 60-70% of the time?
There will be a time, and it may be coming soon, when I know that I can no longer serve my clients to the extent that I and my employers would find appropriate. At present neither side has reached that conclusion.
Unfortunately, both comments also betray the underlying belief that all those who suffer from complex mental health issues must be unable to function effectively as constructive members of society.
This denies those considered 'high functioning' like myself who, even with the struggle against their condition succeed in leading a fulfilled and fulfilling life. This unfortunately, perpetuates the myths which have surrounded mental illness for generations -
Speaking as someone practically driven out of the NHS once my mental health condition became known I am 100% behind this blogger. It does help to know that there are some good employers out there even though I understand that long periods of illness whatever it is can risk any job. I don't even expect people to 'understand' me-it would be nice just to be given a chance to prove my worth. I would like to be able to apply for a job and not worry about being questioned as to why I have been out of the loop for years. The trouble with coming out as it were is that you immediately are seen as a problem treated differently from anyone else and to me that exacerbates my condition. I don't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about how I am perceived by others, its almost as if they are waiting for you to 'fall'. Everyone deserves the chance to just be-not to be seen in the blinkered view of someone who has a mental health problem.
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You're damned if you work with mental health difficulties.
You're damned if you take sick leave
You're damned if you don't work and claim benefits
You're damned if you don't work, claim benefits but do voluntary work.So what are people supposed to do?
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Having a fulfilling job is a major reason why I think I have never been hospitalised. For me, in terms of providing stability, gainful employment is essential to provide social interaction and to build self-esteem. Of course each person must monitor and ensure that the individual career or job does not become in itself either a 'therapy' or perpetuating trigger to crises.
In working with my manager, CPN and Occy Health and my GP I have been able to develop more sustainable hours of working and a caseload which avoids those linked most to my emotional triggers. That's why it can be helpful to be open with your employer.
I know that I am in a very fortunate position as my local NHS trust has been working with the local Social Inclusion team to provide me with an Employment Support Worker who will work with my employer to keep me in my current job, or if it is decided that I need to leave this career, to help me overcome the prejudices my condition may cause in seeking other employment.This I know is a luxury particularly in the current climate and I am very grateful for the support I am receiving. My support worker can attend meetings at work and can even arrange along with my local mental health team to provide training for my employers and colleagues about the specific challenges I face.
However, I am aware that there are competing priorities for many employers and these often mean that compassion can be lost in the need to cut costs, principally labour costs. -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16292327
Scottish Parliament set to vote against welfare reform.
It was only about five years ago IDS Duncan Smith Tory DWP Welfare minister went to a Scottish housing estate and started crying (literally but probably staged) He said he was coming back to rescue them.
I doubt if they will feel rescued in the coming years when his policies are implemented.
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