What do Occupational Health do? Any experience of meeting with them?

[Empross76]

Hi,
I'm a primary school teacher.
I've been signed off work with a triple whammy of depression/anxiety/stress. I have my first meeting with Occupational Health tomorrow and was just wondering if anybody can tell me what their role is and what to expect?
DH has told me to be a bit guarded and not let everything come tumbling out - I can be a bit of an open book. I've been talking to him about wanting to stop working if there was a way to not lose all of my income - early retirement, redundancy, ill health, etc. At the moment I can't see myself ever being well enough to work again.
But DH is worried about money - very worried. He's scared I'm going to say something that may lose me my job.
Is he right? Should I be careful about what I say? Or are they there to help me?
Any advice would be gratefully received!

I have had three this year. The first time I went in there and spilled my guts and they were very head-nodding and generally just said I would need to be off for a while and they would have to see how recovery went and if necessary look at redeployment to less stressful department and if that didn't work ill-health retirement, the second time I saw the doc who said, hmmm, don't think you're ready yet, the third time the doc went well you seem in great form, I will write to your manager to say you'll be back in September and I don't think you even need a phased return, you seem in good fettle and you're obviously doing what you should be doing but feel free to get in touch if you feel you need us to do anything to support your return nearer to the time, otherwise I don't have to see you again. Remember the illness will tell you that you will never be well again. I have OCD and I had borderline-severe depression too, also in a stressful situation at work. I'm a lot better now, don't try to predict the future and make major life decisions, just take care of yourself for now x

They ask basic questions, wanting to find out diagnosis, symptoms, treatments etc. how long signed off for, how best to support you etc in your current job... That may be signing you off for longer in first instance whilst wait for tests, treatments etc. they will probably want to see you again and may ask permission to contact your dr's etc or may not. They may ask you to see one of their dd's if it is a nurse doing basic assessment at a future appointment.

Mayask you what help or support you are wanting. For instance is it caused by work, what changes needed at work if so etc. or is it life events, outside of work etc etc.

Hope it helps. Being guarded may be wise but if you are not honest enough you may not get the outcome you want. They may well try for a phased return at some point. That can be as little as few hours a week. If that fails then they can assess for early retirement etc I guess. Not likely on first meeting you perhaps but if you work with them it may help.

Oh you say stress is part of problem. Perhaps you can talk about what is causing in stress to see how they can help. No idea about retirement, but unless school wanting to make people redundant guess you unlikely to get redundancy pay. Could you contact your union for info if you think work is wanting people made redundant? Otherwise up doubt you'll lose job for being ill. You can get 6mths full pay off sick then 6mths help pay plus stat sick pay so perhaps worth seeking all that year's entitlement financially and giving you time to recover in a year?

I have regular meetings with an Occy health doctor. They are there to make sure you're supported in work, especially if your ill health is work related.

When I was very depressed, I didn't talk to them about that, but made it clear I wasn't well enough to work at that time and they agreed. Its up to your GP whether you are well enough to work or not, but they may ask permission to speak to your GP.

When I was going back to work, they met with me to check I was OK, organised a phased return and put in reasonable adjustments for me to be able to do my job. Now I am back I see them once every 3 months or so to make sure the adjustments in place are working and that I am keeping well.

The best advice I can give you is not to make any decisions about whether you can carry on working, until you're better. The world looks a lot different when you're well.

Thanks all for the replies. Good to hear that so many of you had positive experiences with OH and are well now.

My appt went well - I tried not to be too much of an open book but enough came out for me to feel that she understood and for her to refer me for CBT. She said the timescale was unclear so I don't feel rushed back into work. She said she felt this had been an ongoing problem for quite some time so we should do all we can to 'fill in the cracks' rather than 'paper over them'. I like that.

Also gave me the number of HR guy to put my mind at rest about money. Haven't phoned yet - motivation is very poor at the moment!

Thanks again for all the replies.