Return to work interview after being off due to depression

[Jhr299]

I’ve been signed off work for two weeks due to quite severe depression, I have a doctors note with this reason on, but I’m meant to have a return to work interview. I really don’t feel comfortable discussing my mental illness with my employer, is there anyway I can refuse to do the RTW interview? The doctors note says that after the date stated as the last day I’ll be off, I can return to work without seeing the GP again. Im really dreading it.

I am sorry you have been having such a difficult time. Are you ready to go back to work ? 2 weeks is a very short time particularly for quite severe depression. Have you got a follow up appointment with your GP and/or any of their support in place. Have you had a contact with occupational health at all? I have been off work with anxiety since May and am expecting to go back in August. I am fortunate because my employer offers really good sickness support and I appreciate not everyone is so lucky. OH have been really supportive and have helped me to put together a phased return. It has taken some of the pressure off.

I’ve been back for two days and am finding it really exhausting. My job is supporting people with LD/mental health (ironic) so I’ve really got to put a big happy brave face on which depression makes quite hard. I don’t feel I can take more time as my employer only offers 2 weeks half pay and then it’s SSP and if I’m off for longer my pay will be a lot less meaning I won’t be able to cover all my outgoings (rent/petrol/food etc) and that won’t help with how I’m feeling. I don’t really know what other option I have than to keep working?

It's usually in an employer's policy to conduct a RTW interview after absence - they have to make sure you are fit to be in work, and whether any adjustments are needed to support your return - change of hours, extra breaks and so on.

If you refuse to have the meeting, this could work against you in the future, if the absence management process progresses due to further absences, as your employer would not have had the opportunity to offer support and it could be seen as you refusing to work with your employer to manage your attendance and wellbeing.

Sorry, that sounded a bit blunt! I hope you do receive the support you need and that your depression becomes more manageable soon .

Thanks, I had it and it wasn’t as bad as I thought just simple questions and nothing intrusive so that’s fine. Now I’m just feeling rubbish as being back at work is exhausting me already

Did they offer you any support in respect of you finding the job exhausting?

Had my rtw interview before shift and was asked if they could do anything but I said no at that point. Have had 2 shifts since and don’t know what to do. I don’t know what support they could offer me, I can’t do anything else in my job so it’s not like they could put me on lighter duties or anything

It's difficult to suggest ideas without being in your workplace, but some thoughts:

Is there any flexibility in your hours? For example, working a compressed week/fortnight to give you an extra day off; starting shifts earlier or later depending on whether you function best in the mornings or afternoons.

Does your workload need reviewing - if you have peers doing the same role, is your caseload spread evenly?

Is there any element of your work that could be taken off you, such as routine admin that could be done by someone in a role with less responsibility?

Would mini-breaks throughout the day be helpful?

Apologies if these are irrelevant/unfeasible; I'm just basing them on adjustments I have put in place for people in the past.

Does your employee offer an Employee assistance programme ? If so it maybe worth contacting them as they can offer support including counselling. Are you taking anti depressants at all ? Sorry to sound really nosy it's just hard to know what is realistic without knowing your circumstances. No need to answer if you don't want to !

No worries being nosey! I am on anti depressants I’ve just changed from sertraline to citalopram as the sertraline seemed to stop working and I was feeling worse than ever. I don’t think my work have any counselling etc. But I am on a waiting list for counselling at my doctors surgery and having a phone call to discuss my situation so they can decide what’s best, I’m not sure how long I’ll have to wait though I imagine it’ll be a long time. It’s such a frustrating situation, a lot of the time I’m ok, but I have this constant thought of suicide, it can even come up in my mind when I’m having a nice time. It’s not that I think I’m actually going to do it, I just always think about it, and almost wish I could, because I just feel like it’s never going to get better. But I know I won’t, mostly because of how I know it will effect my family, especially my parents. Just seeing my mum upset when I spoke to her about the depression (not mentioning suicidal thoughts) made me realise that. I think it’s good, I suppose, that I can still see that, but I’m almost scared that one day it will get worse to the point that I’ll have no choice. I think about it every time a train passes the park I walk my dog, if I see news stories about suicide I read a lot into it, find one that says how they did it. I almost feel relief for and jealousy when I read of people who have done it. And I know that thinking about it this much isn’t normal which is what scares me. And trying to support people in my job while this is in my head is just so hard

Have you told your GP about the suicidal thoughts ? If not I really think you should. If he/she is not aware they can't judge the support you need and how urgent it is. Suicidal thoughts can also be a side effect of antidepressants. It may be that citalopram does not suit you and you need to change to something else. Please speak to your GP. If ever you feel you are going to act on your thoughts tell someone or call the Samaritans or go to A&E. Hugs