A couple of questions

[smurfgirl]

I am currently being assessed for my fitness to be at work by a psychologist. Endless stress.

What do psychologists actually do? I am in therapy with a nurse as well so not sure of the differences...not sure what she wants from me if I am honest!!

If I am being assessed can I claim incapacity benefits? I am not sure, but surely if I am off work because of my mental health i am not well enough to work? Not sure about this really.

Marvellous

hi smurf. sorry stuff is shite for you atm.

what sort of psych are you seeing - possibly clinical?
Do we take it that you are out of whatever company sick pay there is? Check direct.gov website, but if you are unable to work through mental ill health then i think you can claim and be asssessed... off to check!!

have a look?

Clinical psychologist yes.

I FEEL well in myself, have not cut myself since July but being off is starting to really drag me down.

I am a student nurse, but if they don't make a decision (after dragging their heels for 4 months ) my bursary is supposed to stop next month, but I am unable to work in the trust that I student nurse in until this assessment. I don't have any references for jobs because they were all in this NHS trust. I feel very trapped by it all.

now that sounds like a dreadful situation. Is there any way that you can get / make them move the appointment sooner? you need to protect your place on the course and your entitlement to the bursary, and it isn't your fault that you have been ill. Are you attached to a university? if so there should be 'student services' advisors who can support you and push things along, advocate for you if needs be.
fwiw, here's the stuff on incapacity benefit that i was rabbiting on about before.

I got to uni and its all organised through uni. They are questioning whether my mental health means I can't finish my course.

They only pay your bursary for x amonut of months when you are on sick but the uni have been mega slow about everything. I wanted to talk to my union but realised I had not joined up this past year (stupid)

join again quick?
defo go hunting for your student services finance and welfare person, probably the best first port of call for tomorrow. If you've only got the energy to do one thing, make it that one. By phone or in person, doesn't matter which?
would it be the hosp occupational health dep that you'd be going to or something more student-y? This is such a bugger having feet in both camps as it were. I came across same when training as a teacher, but not to this degree

The psychologist (have seen her once is v.nice, am now seeing weekly) is through my local mental health trust but I was referred to her by the uni occupational health after the trust I was working in as a student said that I could not go back until I was assessed.

They are not unreasonable in assessing me just, handling it badly.