Bipolar disorder

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What would happen where you work if someone declared a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?

A colleague has come to me for advice, but also asked me to keep her secret, which puts me in a difficult position as we work with vulnerable children and young people. I'm not exactly sure what the diagnosis means in terms of the effect on her work, but it feels like something that should be known.

If it did become known, what would you expect to happen? Apparently this is a long term diagnosis, managed with medication and known, but not declared, when she applied for the job.

We would offer support and understand what reasonable adjustments someone needed

It’s her private medical diagnosis, no need to disclose it unless as pp says it means she needs her adjustments made to accommodate her. There is certainly no reason to think she would be a danger to the children in your care if that’s what you are implying?

Are you implying she’s a danger to children??!!

You don’t do anything. It’s up to her. I worked with 2 teachers who were bipolar. They didn’t go round stabbing children!

I've got no intention of doing anything. She's asked me for advice as to what she should do. Although I don't know why she thinks I would know!

which puts me in a difficult position as we work with vulnerable children and young people

Do you think people with bipolar disorder are a risk to other people?

Firstly having bipolar disorder doesn't mean you are a sexual predator or somehow incapable of doing your job properly. It is a mood disorder precipitated by stress that, if managed properly, will not affect her work at all.

I'd recommend she speak to HR to get her diagnosis recorded so that, if she did become ill she is protected. No one else need know as it is her confidential record but it will provide her with protection.

I've no idea