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Original poster

difficult situation - relative with mental health problems about to be employed by NHS

65 replies

justsomeone · 20/03/2006 11:14

This is a very difficult situation all-round really. I have a relative on dh's side who is manic-depressive, she's under the care of a psychiatrist and takes various medications, but apparently it's all not working. She has psychotic episodes, completely neglects her young children (sometimes she'll stay in bed all day and the little ones have to fend for themselves - they're very young).
She used to work as a radiographer before having kids, and now, after trying it various other things part-time without being able to hold anyelse down really, has decided to get her old job back (she did not have mental health problems like this back them) and they're eager to have her back, with the shortage in this particular area etc.
I can't help having very grave misgivings about her having a role where she could potentially kill someone by not being 100% well. I would not want myself or my family to be treated with radioactivity by someone who has psychotic episodes and sometimes can't even get out of bed to give her children food.
Will they do medicals/ask for a reference from her GP or anything?

OP posts:
colditz · 20/03/2006 11:16

This is why people with mental health problems won't seek help - the stigma and irrational fear attached to giving them a job means a lot of people cannot work if they admit they are having problems.

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:17

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Original poster
justsomeone · 20/03/2006 11:18

i'm sorry to offend - but I think in this case it is likely to affect her professionally. It's not like bulimia or standard depression FFS.

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 20/03/2006 11:18

I think if she is accepted through the normal recruitment channels then she is entitled to be given the opportunity. Mental illness shouldn't be a complete block on working.

mykidsmum · 20/03/2006 11:19

Agree with Starlover, the job may be exactly what she needs. I would say if her psychiatrist is aware of her job and has concerns then he will discuss them with the relevant agencies.

yeamam · 20/03/2006 11:20

I don't think it is an irrational fear though, If she genuinely could kill/maim someone then she shouldn't be doing the job. Will her employers need her medical records before they employ her? As, if they do then they will know the situation and make their minds up from that.

Yes it's a shame that people today hear "mental health" problems and stigmatise it, but in a job like above it should be made clear to the employer.

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:20

justsomeone... you are making a lot of assumptions about what her employers know!

unless she has totally covered up this background and is hoping that they won't find out then I would assume that they know, that they've spoken to her GP and that they're happy to have her there.

they may have her working with someone
they may have things in place to support her within the work place
they may believe, as I do, that a job is VERY different from home life and that people with depression can and do behave very differently in different environments

yeamam · 20/03/2006 11:22

Yeah, I hadn't thought of that actually, her employers may already be aware of her mental problems.

Bit I still have to say, that if, at the minute, she tends to lie in bed all day some days and not take care of her children then she might not be able to hold down a job and take care of her children either.. not a sweeping statement, just wondering if she would get all the support she needed to be able to do this?

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:26

but I used to be like this... at work I was fine, it was the only reason I got up in the mornings... I was just a normal person there

at home I knew I didn't need to keep up the pretence, and that was where I was at my worst... people will always see the extremes of your depression when you are at home, in your comfort zone.

at work is a different matter IME, and as long as they are supporting her then I can't see that there would be a problem

zippitippitoes · 20/03/2006 11:29

If she is in a psychotic state she won't be in work. otherwise I I don't see it would be a problem and the NHS is very much a team environment, very little is done without checks and balances.

Callisto · 20/03/2006 11:31

She sounds far too flakey to do the job properly if she can't even look after her poor children. It is very easy to get a job using false information and I would have thought that her employers are unaware the she is so ill. They won't ask for any medical history if they think she is fine. I certainly wouldn't want to be treated by her - I assume she will be treating cancer patients with radiotherapy - especially after hearing about that poor girl who died recently after being given massive overdoses or radiation to treat a very curable type of cancer.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2006 11:32

Er...what is standard depression?

Look, i think you are being a little alarmist. I agree with everything that others have said. Her employers will have made appropriate checks already.

And work life is different to home life, and may help both in fact. The children will now have some sort of routine/regularity to their life - even if it is with a childminder.

Callisto · 20/03/2006 11:36

So is it standard NHS practice to run medical checks on potential employees?

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:37

i can'#t believe the narrow-minded opinions of some people on this thread.
vile in this day and age

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2006 11:38

LOTS of large organisations insist prospective employees carry out a pre employment questionnaire/medical now. It can involve checking gp records etc or having their own physician carrying out an examination.

Its not unusual at all.

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:38

you all just automatically asssume that she hasnb't said anytrihng to her employers aboutth is...

you just assume that she MUST have lied, becayse hey... who would employ her otherwise?

disgusting :(

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2006 11:39

Agree starlover.

Its not surprising that women feel unable to seek help for pnd is it.

zippitippitoes · 20/03/2006 11:41

There is a complete stigma to employment and socially with mental illness which is ridiciulous given how common it is

colditz · 20/03/2006 11:44

Yes all the comments like "Oh no, I would never treat someone differently if they had mental health difficulties... I won't have to sit next to her will I?"

Yuk.

I live such a sheltered bloody life. I never come into contact with this kind of prejudice in real life, it's Mumsnet that makes me see how narrow minded people really are.

Heathcliffscathy · 20/03/2006 11:46

agreed colditz and starlover.

incidentally, i think that loads and loads of people that work in the caring professions inc health service have mental health problems of one kind or other!

totally agree that her psychaitrist would be in contact with her employers if he had a concern.

Callisto · 20/03/2006 11:47

Sorry to upset you Starlover I wouldn't have a problem at all if she was in a job that a mistake meant losing a contract or upsetting a boss. Unfortunately a mistake here means she could make someone very ill or worse. I don't have a problem with anyone who has a mental illness and I am not narrow minded (a very good friend of mine suffers from deppression, has had psychotic episodes and once overdosed on my kitchen floor). Yes, I did assume she wouldn't get the job if her history was known because I don't think an employer would want her in a position of such responsibility - if she makes a mistake and the employer knows the employer is liable.

Hallgerda · 20/03/2006 11:48

I think there's some irrational fear here.
The neglect of her young children sounds worrying, but surely it is a huge step from that to giving a complete stranger a radiation overdose? It sounds far more likely she might just not turn up for work. Or even that having a job might help her to sort out her life?

Flossam · 20/03/2006 11:49

I am a nurse and at one stage a few years ago I went nuts. Completely. Wanted to throw myself of bridges blah blah blah. But I wanted to harm myself, no-one else, ever. I continued working, and working well. I could still do my job. Unfortunately, I felt unable to seek help as I was worried I would loose my job. Luckily for me, it was depo provera sending me all sorts of crazy. You relative may not be so lucky.

Let her give it a try, I completely agree with SL - work for me was a haven where I had to be normal. Home was where I cried with stress and frustration and became incredibly destructive.

Sorry, I don't normally discuss this but this has made me incredibly Angry that you are ready to write her off.

zippitippitoes · 20/03/2006 11:50

Manic depression or bipolar disorder doesn't mean you can't have a demanding job

starlover · 20/03/2006 11:50

her amployer obviously believes that she is capable of diong the job though... i very uch doubt that they would put her in that position if they felt she wasn't capable of doing it properly.

for all we know she may be on a probationary period during which she has to have a second person check what she is doing etc etc

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