Worried boss

[purlyknits]

NC for this.
I manage a team at work of around 30, medical field
Apologies if vague, but I don't want to be identified in any way
One of my staff has been suffering with poor mental health for around a year, she's mid 20's
Poor family network of basically zero support
2 days ago she tried to take her own life, thankfully she was found by a friend
Crisis team have not been as involved as I'd have thought, and I just don't know where to turn
Have genuinely never ever seen someone so sad
We have a support group within the workplace, and I called them today.
Useless, they advised for her to see G.P (like she hasn't already)
I'm so worried that the darkness will envelop her again, how can I help?
I would do anything to support her, it's breaking my heart to think of a young girl like this
She's beautiful, funny, clever and has the world at her feet, is there anyone who can tell me what I can do for her?

Please (sorry pardon manners)

Do you have a more formal occupational health team that you could refer her to (with her consent), or perhaps the Samaritans could signpost you to other appropriate services.
Sorry she’s going through this but you sound like a lovely boss.

Is she having counselling?

Talk to hr they might have numbers for support lines or be able to offer some therapy

Talk to her, reach out for a welfare meeting, occ health.

You sound lovey by the way, stick with her

Private health insurance at work? Get back on to the Crisis team.

Could you refer her to occi health? They might have access to other options? Also could she self refer to her local IAPT service? Is you or she googles IAPT and your area it should come up with the relevant service and most accept self referrals. And sometimes NHS staff can be given priority in some services. Depending on her difficulties she might be too severe or risky for IAPT, but they might be able to refer on elsewhere. Poor woman, at least she has a supportive team and manager looking out for her.

HR advised me to call the in house mental support service, they actually said that a suicide risk was too in depth for them to deal with, it was more short term problems that they supported
I am just at a loss as to where to turn
We do work within the NHS so I will have a wider look today and see if there is anything else out there for her
Thanks

I wish all bosses were as caring as you

Not sure how helpful these suggestions will be, but do you have similar local charities /voluntary groups? Some are commissioned to provide a wide range of mental health services.

The kinds of things I'm thinking of are things like Penumbra's 24 hour crisis centre in Edinburgh, the Lighthouse in Perth, organisations offering Distress Brief Interventions (short term intensive support) , local Mental Health Association of similar.

Hopefully someone in your local area (be it an NHS contact, or someone from the charity sector) should be able to give signposting information about services locally.

Occupational health for a formal review. If you can access an employee assistance programme then do so, they can refer to other services and offer short term help. Then signpost to charities and local services..

I'm in the same situation with a colleague in my team. It's distressing, stressful and incredibly hard to deal with....I recognize all that you say and feel equally helpless in my situation. Please make sure you have some proper support too - inform HR formally and your manager so you have made others aware of the situation and steps taken to manage it. Also access any support services you can. You may be her line manager but it's not for you to deal with alone

Thank you for advice
Our employee assistance scheme is dire, they couldn't offer any signposts at all, other than contact gp, incredible considering the company are always banging on about how supportive they are
Thankfully this poor soul has 3 good friends at work in my team, and they have been staying with her, I have juggled shifts around so she is never left by herself
I have written a card, offering my own support (I think the mum in me has taken over from the boss, I'm obviously still professional, but she has mentioned that she's worried about her job, I just want her to know that I'm there for her, and despite these troubles I value her as an employee, but more importantly as a person)
It's just so worrying and sad, to see a young person like this, utterly heart breaking that until she makes another attempt at taking her own life, there's nothing to help.
I will keep trying, keep supporting and hopefully she will get through this
Very grateful to all who have responded