DD - we feel stuck between a rock & a hard place

[MrsMunchetty]

DD is 18 back from Uni. Has struggled last year with v serious mental illness at home but recovering well. Not good with own company or boredom. Wants to get a job shelf stacking at local supermarket and has an interview tomorrow. Nobody in our family is vulnerable medically speaking. In any normal situation, I’d be delighted at the positive work ethic, but am petrified that we could all become v seriously ill. Equally if we say no to this I’m worried that her MI could easily return which actually in its own right can and has been life threatening too in the past. I just don’t know whats for the best. She has a younger sibling aged 15.

Thanks @BobTheDuvet....thing is, we are a small isolated family anyway. But the response to this illness Is very individual from practically asymptomatic to game over ☹️. I’m worried. There’s no protection for anyone working in a store is there?

It sounds as though her being out the house and busy will help her mental health? If so I would encourage her to do it, especially as there's no one classes as vulnerable at home.

Mental health services have been very much impacted by this. I have a young family member who is very unwell. They normally have a home visit every other day to asses if they are well enough to stay home, or if they need to be readmitted to hospital. Because of this, they are no longer having home visits. Assessments are being done over the phone, except my family member will point blank not talk to them on the phone. So it will only be when things dangerously escalate again that they will have access to any real help. By then it may be too late. And I'm not blaming anyone, it's a shit situation all round and her mental health team are doing the best they can

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if getting the job could potentially help prevent a detioration in mental health, in my opinion she should absolutely go for it

Being out of the house will without doubt aid her already recovered MH. Being stuck in could well trigger a lot of past coping strategies which were v upsetting for the entire family and caused us all to suffer. We’ve only just bounced back. She has a great prospects now at Uni, goals etc....we just need to tread water through this tough patch like everyone. I’m sorry to hear about your family member ...we’ve been there! What about private counselling via Skype perhaps?