Returning after Long Term Depression

[Dobbysocks]

As the title says, I’ll soon be returning to work after a period of 5 months absence. I don’t know my colleagues well as I was very new before I had a mental health breakdown and ended up off. One colleague previously asked me why I was off when I had to take a day off for dependent leave a few weeks into the job.

I’m really quite fearful of what colleagues will think of me and what they will ask about my absence.

It’s a phased return. Any tips to help me settle back in? Preferably if you’ve been in this position too.

I feel like they just think I’m rubbish as I’ve been on long term sick and will fight to be taken seriously.

Fellow teacher here.

How are you feeling in yourself? Do you feel ready to return?

I have been off for one extended period before and I came back too soon, all the issues that caused me to be off were still there when I returned.

As long as you feel ready, go back and be aware that you are a replaceable number only. So priorities are yourself, family abs then your job. I don’t envy my teaching colleagues in England as there seems to be a 🤯 level of scrutiny and micromanagement.

Sending best wishes.

I would strongly advise a phased return, so you return part time and take it slowly. Don't worry about the reaction of other staff, you can't control what they will do or what they think. The school has a duty of care, and will be wary that OH and the doctor are involved.

When I returned after a period of sick leave, it was really interesting to find out who was lovely and who wasn't. A few were a bit off with me, because I probably caused them more work (or who knows what they thought) whilst I was away etc but to counter that, there were a few surprises too, with a few welcome back gifts from those I didn't expect, and especially TA's actually, who were really lovely to me, a few checking in on me with real kindness, so you really get to see the true colours of certain people and who your friends are so to speak!

But look after yourself more importantly. Only go back when ready, and go back with the attitude that if it's shit (which it probably won't be!), you can just go off again! So don't worry about it 😀.

I don’t feel ready yet but I think by the end of my current sign off period I will be much closer and so currently treating this as my due to return date. Prior to now I’ve recoiled in fear every time a return is mentioned as I’ve struggled to get through most days without breaking down but now I can envisage myself returning and am starting to speak about ‘when I’m back’ which wasn’t happening before. Just contemplating it feels like huge progress.

I am worried that I might be back and end up off again, should I not be ready, but I hope the phased return will help to avoid this.

It’s so alien to me. I’ve been teaching a long time, UPS3, a fairly glittering range of roles to my name and great outcomes with students consistently. Suddenly a mental health breakdown has made me feel that person doesn’t exist anymore and I struggle to see how I can pretend to be her again on my return.

But I guess that’s where the phased return will help. It’s not going to be all guns blazing on day one.

Thank you for this. It’s nice to see you had some decent colleagues and support to come back to. I don’t know mine particularly well as I was relatively new before my breakdown and so I can’t imagine this being the case with me but I just hope I’m not treated with disdain. I’ve been at some fairly toxic schools in the past and would hate to end up in another environment like that as a byproduct of something health related I’ve had no control over.

Slow progress but I’m finally starting to speak about going back whereas before I would have very physical symptoms even considering it.

If it did all go wrong and I ended up off again with a relapse in my MH state I think I’d be concerned at my job security due to the length I’ve already been off.