Are you allowed to do stuff when you’re signed off?

[ThePerkyCoralPoet]

Had plans made with my friend from October. It’s going to a Christmas choir performance with dinner after. Am I allowed to go if I’m signed off?

When I worked for the good old NHS, your manager would do unannounced home visits to catch you out.

It’s called social prescribing- the MH treatment that gets you to go to events and socialise with friends or others. Go to the choir performance.

No I’ve resigned. I just now really don’t feel up to returning as the nature of what happened startled me.

If you’re not employed anymore you definitely don’t have to think twice about going out because you’re not signed off (unless you mean you’ve resigned but are signed off for your notice period?) either way getting out will do you good

Yes definitely do it especially if signed off for MH reasons.

I think if you have any colleagues as friends/contacts on social media who might be having to pick up your work, there's an unspoken etiquette not to post loads of pics of you out having lots of fun. But you should absolutely still go and do it.

Resigned signed off technically still under the roles of that employer

I’ve had to stop communicating with colleagues. Too worried and don’t trust them.

When I first was signed off with MH issues, I couldn’t have gone out. Then I felt a bit better but felt it was taking the piss if I socialised so I didn’t.
A few years on I now have no friends. I don’t leave the house unless it is for a medical appointment, I don’t even walk down the road. And I’m so incredibly lonely. I question daily if life is worth living.
So what I’m trying to say, is go out, socialise. Do things that keep you being you. Prioritise yourself. Don’t be me.

I'm sorry, love. 😔

I've been signed off with MH issues before and sitting about the house doing nothing would have made my state of mind much worse. I was advised by my doctor and psycotherapist that it was very important for my recovery to get out and do normal things, exercise, meet friends etc.

Sorry, confused. Have you resigned, , but still in the notice period, but are currently signed off ill during that period?

Oh, that’s awful. Can you get back in touch with your MH team? They should be able to help you get back into socialising.

I see them but they are so busy. They say I need therapy but the waiting list is very long. I think it’s all a bit late for me but if I can persuade others to do things differently, then I shall x

Yea you absolutely can. In fact HR should promote activities that will help your mental health and being with friends is one of them.

I take it you don't have a chronic illness?

I was signed off sick and it was so difficult to know what I could do or not outside the house!

You haven't really given it too much thought have you?

But that doesn't make any sense. A builder might be signed off with a broken wrist, but perfectly able to do loads of other things.

You’re an angel. Next time you get in touch ask if they have a social prescriber. They can introduce you to any local groups like yoga, or coffee meet-ups, free art classes, walking groups and so on. They will chat with you and help you get up the courage to take the plunge and I know it can be daunting. If youre hampered by agoraphobia, some MH teams also have Reablement and that’s not a long wait, you can have socialising as a goal and that means you’d have a carer from Reablement organise everything (to your wishes) and go along with you so you’re not trying it alone.

It can be done while waiting for therapy without bumping you off that wait list or delaying things.

Depends what's wrong with you and if going to the thing will make you better or worse. If you're contagious you probably shouldn't go.

That sounds like a perfectly acceptable thing to do whilst signed off for MH. It is very easy to just stay in and then your world just shrinks. A choir recital and dinner with a friend should make for a lovely, gentle social evening out. I hope you feel better soon.

If you are off work for mental health or work related stress then going out for exercise and social interactions is going to improve those conditions Staying at home alone will make it worse.

It really depends what your reason for being off is and what your job is.