Employment Pressure whilst suffering with mental health

[LinzDC]

I am suffering massively with my mental health and attempted suicide late last year. My work were good about it, allowing me time off sick and offering to pay for private therapy. I didn't take this up as it is a personal issue to me and didn't want work knowing how many sessions I would need to get the help I so desperately need. However, work have changed towards me, questioning my workload and I feel scrutinised. They have also just put me under added pressure by forcing me to take exams that I know I won't be able to cope in doing. I am desperate for help. Any suggestions or any legal help would be appreciated as I am so stressed about it and don't know where to go as I can't afford to be out of a job and they have said there are no exceptions.

What is it you want to happen? Is it just the exams you don’t want to take? What is your occupation and are the exams normal for somebody in your occupation?

I’m in insurance but not a broker just admin. I don’t give advice or sell anything. It is not compulsory but he said he wants everyone regulated and there are 3 exams to do before December. I just want to be able to do a good job and don’t want the added stress of taking exams. Too much pressure for me to handle.

It seems that it’s not just you to take the exams?

Maybe it’s time to look for another role, or to maybe take some time off if stressed, speak to your company about your mental health and your route to recovery snd when you feel you’ll be able to do th exams.

OP I think you'd be wise to take up your employer's offer of some counselling.

By declining their offer, you're signalling you aren't serious about getting better. This may not be the case, but it's the perception.

If you tried to take your own life, you need to seek professional help, to process what has happened and be able to come to some kind of closure, whatever that means to you.

Believe me when I say, your employer will not hold any significance to how many sessions you have. You need to work with a therapist and for them to recommend the number of sessions you could need.

I would not leave your job. I would ask them to allow you to defer the studies and exams until you've completed some therapy. It's actually a great opportunity to be funded for training at the moment, grab the opportunity but complete it in slower time. It will give you a new goal to try for.

Hey OP, really sorry to hear that you've been struggling. Did you manage to access support outside of work in the end?

Just to try and reassure you, as someone whose referred people to services via work as a manager and also used those services myself, the only reason id notice the number of sessions someone had would be:

• If the company had a cap on how many it would pay for, id make you aware so you werent taken by surprise and could make plans for further support if needed
• If you only had 1-2 sessions, as id be concerned that it wasnt the right support for you and you might need help finding something more suitable

On the exam, i think the key here is to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible, as it might calm your fears but it has the added bonus of you looking enthusiastic and keen by asking lots of questions (what extra responsibility will you be expected to take/will you be paid more/how much time will they give you within your work hours to study and prepare/is there a mentor whose fone the exams you could approach to find out what to expect)
If you do all this and you find you still cant face doing it, my recommendation would be to ask if you can defer until xxx date, and clearly advising what steps you will take to get you ready to that point (engaging in therapy for your MH, having regular time with a mentor to prepare for the exams) as then you've given them a clear timeline of when you will take them, showing that you are will put the work in your end in exchange for flexibility on theirs. Remember they are thinking about your role, its not you personally. Companies are unfortunately under a lot of pressure to get more for their money these days and run a tight ship, which isnt great for MH if you arent expecting it.

Just reading back and you mention they are forcing you to do exams but then they are not compulsory - so actually not entirely sure if you definitely have to do them or not?