Does anyone have any information on occupational health in relation to work?
I have to go and see the occupational health dr in the next month and I'd really rather not. The only reason I need to go is because I need to take weekly time off for appts and my manager is stickler for rules! I have not disclosed anything to my line manger regarding my depression and would rather keep it that way because we have a very rocky relationship and she is not very good at her job. She often forgets that there is a reason I need time off which may be kinda sensative. I'm not being over-sensitive re: this issue, she genuinely is bad at her job, not just with my situation either - in the past my colleagues have had the 3rd degree about attending family funerals and I have heard that at one point she banned anyone from swapping shifts with one colleague who was a carer for her ill mum!
I've gotten my GP to write a letter simply stating I needed time off for health reasons but I'm worried if I go to occ. health it will have to be disclosed. I'm not ashamed of having depression, but with this particular manager I don't feel comfortable at all being personal with her. Seems as though I have to go through her though which is purely horrific.
Plus I'd really rather not disclose that I self harm. I work with kids and I know that many people including drs don't really understand SH. My GP has said she'd support that i'm not a danger and am able to work...but the very fact she has to say this isn't exactly good news!
This is a new situation for me so I'm slightly worried about it. If anyone has any advice or reassurances, that would be great. For the moment my GP and I have decided 'depression' is the best/simplest/least stigmatised diagnosis to give but I don't really have the classic depression which people/drs don't often get.
Basically occupational health is anything which maybe physical, psychological or other factors which may interrupt, disturb or affect your performance at work. Usually the person is quite helpful and may give you allowances or things that may assist you which may help in working well. But yeah, alot of ppl suffer depression or depressive illnesses, so you ain't alone, but i still do agree there is alot of stigmatism around the area of mental health. Anyways, to cut short...i hope this person you are seeing will assist you with things that might help you overall in the work front
The letter will just say if you are covered by the DDA and to recommend that you are allowed to attend appointments. You can take someone with you and I'd recommend your union rep. You can take the letter from your GP and ask to have that accepted as enough info.
They will probably ask for you to give permission to write to your doctor. You can see the report before it is sent to OH and ask for changes to be made, but you are responsible for making sure you see it as after a certain time it will get sent anyway.
Even if you self harm that won't stop them letting you work with children, so don't worry.
I don't really feel there is anything within work that can be altered to help me. Other than on days I feel so depressed that I need to phone in sick (which has been about 3 times in a yr and a half, so not exactly an issue!) it would be easier to text rather than speak. The depression seems to hit my voice first! Plus I always need to phone my manager and everytime I've come off the phone I've burst into tears because she is so abrupt.
Generally I would really like to know what the appt entails. E.g. What questions do they ask? Is it like an appt with a GP or psychiatrist? Could they not believe you based on the way that you present? Is there anything you definately shouldn't say? etc.
So the letter that is sent to my manager from occ. health can simply say i'm covered by the DDA? It doesn't have to be specific regarding why? This is a really important aspect for me, almost more than getting the time off tbh. I feel my mental health may deteriorate if I am 'exposed' to her.
I don't think I want to take the risk regarding disclosing I self harm unless I really have to. I may not lose my job but I could cause myself a heck of a lot of trouble that i'd rather avoid!
Occ. Health could talk to your manager and explain a more sensitive way of treating you. They are there for that, too. They work on your behalf.
To be honest, I've always been completely upfront about everything that was affecting me at work. The first person I saw was a doctor, [referred when my then manager felt out of her depth, basically, and I was pretty unwell] and she was very understanding and recommended that work carry on as before, and that my treatment is long term and recovery ongoing. My manager however wasn't fully satisfied, and contacted HR, who transferred me to back office duties for part of my hours. The second time I was referred because I was under a lot of stress which was causing problems, my PTSD symptoms acting up pretty severely. The person I saw [a different provider, they change them like the weather] was a nurse, and she questioned my diagnosis and my treatment plan, which of course was None Of Her Business, and my GP and therapist said as much also. But she did say that things should ease as the stress abates [I'd just had gastroenteritis and then moved house in the space of a month!] and that current workplace adjustments were satisfactory. The whole process did help me to take more responsibility at work and keep my PTSD reactions more contained within work.
Hmm yeah. Sorry about all the Me Stuff.
My managers have always been really considerate and warm and open with me, so I'm not sure how best to suggest you approach your situation.
Questions they ask are what's your diagnosis, what treatment are you having, how long for, but most importantly how does it effect you at work, how can they help you. Stuff like that. Though I have been told by someone somewhere that I'm not obligated to tell them specifics re medication. [e.g. nurse lady believed I had bipolar, and wanted me to go on mood stabilisers, which both my GP and therapist disagreed completely with. My GP said that she sees me often enough and knows me well enough to pick up on if I'd need a medication change or such. Since then they've changed providers - again! - but they now, I read, consult with the GP so they get their facts right...!]
It is usually a nurse, although can be a doctor. The best thing is to take your union rep with you. They can support you after the meeting then as well. I've had involvement with them and although they were nice I would be careful what you say. They also only make recommendations and work don't have to follow them.
I appreciate your advice and stories. They were useful!
It is really good to know that occ. health are understanding that therapy/treatment can be long term and that they cannot go against previous diagnosis/treatment recommendations.
I've just spoken to my GP about it and she gave me some good advice about what to say if they ask me if I ever thought about harming myself. She recommended that I found out the occ. health remit on disclosure to work management before I go to the meeting because I think that will very much guide what I say, if anything at all!
I'm glad the overall experience has been good. I would take a union rep if I was in one, but I'm not, plus I'm not sure I'd be comfortable talking to anyone else.
I hope it all works out ok for you, and I'm glad I could help.
There's a site that has LOTS of excellent information about mental health and work. But I can't remember what it is, off the top of my head. They have downloadable info packs for line managers and all. I'll have a hunt later when I have time.
It is really important to be in a union, especially as your line manager sounds a bully.
I'd personally ask at the start of the appointment, without appearing to be difficult, why the letter from the GP wasn't good enough and say that you are sure that OH will support you in attending medical appointments with this evidence already available and leave it at that.
Stellata - I would really be interested in that info if you get the chance to find it. My boss does not get MI at all!
I spoke to my dad today who said not all managers are like her (he's a big manager himself), which both encourages me and makes me feel fearful. I don't know much about unions but maybe I really should be in one... I've never connected unions to me as an individual. I've supported them as a cohesive team but for my personal individual problems....well no never thought of them!
Thank you startingagain, you made me feel good. I'm likely going to do that and say really nothing. Afterall they have no reason at all to know the diagnosis. I am not having problems at work, i just need time out for appts. I will ring them this wk and find out their general remit and then find out where i am on the waiting list etc. But generally I agree that my GP saying I have appts to attend should be enough. Afterall she said she'd happily sign me off work for 6 months + if we both felt like it but I don't...I want to work hard, I want to be irl life when I can. I don't need anyone saying I'm a danger to the kids or to myself or degrading me because I'm a depressive....
sorry.
just thinking about those insensitive ppl out there tonight. i want more than anything to be bloody capable!!!
