Mental health crisis, signed off work, now what...

[Bluewitch]

I basically had a complete breakdown this week (I am not going into too much details to avoid triggering anyone but there was a risk to my life so it was really serious) and I received an urgent referral to the mental health crisis team as well immediate support and medication from the GP who also said I was not fit to work and needed some time to recover.

She had to put some of these details, including depression, on the 'fit note' that she gave me so now this will be seen by my employer.

Now I am wondering how this will go down with my employer and what the implications could be.

The job has had some negative effect on me, but was not the main cause of the breakdown, so my plan was always to find a different role anyway but obviously this is a bit of dramatic/sudden turn of events.

Has anyone been signed off not only for depression but also (trigger warning) self-harming and even threat to own life? did you employer handle that well? any advice on how to communicate with them would be much appreciated.

Basically I am concerned about them having that type of information, although I understand why the GP wanted to make it clear that this was a serious crisis and that I absolutely needed to stay away from the workplace at this stage.

I am also slowly trying to think about the future and potentially having to explain to a new employer that I had a serious mental health crisis and needed high levels of meds and support to explain the time off sick...

Today is really the first day that I am not completely unable to function and a risk to myself, so this is going to take some time to recover from...

She had to put some of these details, including depression, on the 'fit note' that she gave me so now this will be seen by my employer.

No she didn't need to, put full details , your GP does not need to go into a detailed medical explanation on Fit note.
Mental health issues, stress, depression, recovering from operation etc is sufficient.
This then gives you the opportunity to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with your employer.

Unless you're in a role where it puts others at risk if you didn't share specifics eg. An airline pilot?

Depression is a very common reason for people being signed off sick do I wouldn't worry about that
Have you handed the Fit note in yet?

Sorry I should also say I'm sorry to hear your feeling so unwell

I don't think that level of detail is helpful or appropriate on a fit note. I don't think a GP should be forcing it, it's not their place. There are separate procedures for safeguarding.

I would focus on recovery rather than work at this point in time ..

its your first day off - not well enough to work you can make decisions on next steps when you are a bit better

Try not to think about it too much at the moment. Try to focus on yourself, on getting well. Unless your employer is very unconscientious and unprofessional, they will know that they have a legal duty not to discriminate against you on the basis of any information revealed on the sick note - and they will also know that you are perfectly capable of continuing to be the effective employee you always were despite whatever has happened.

It is in your employer's interest to read the sick note intelligently and without prejudice.

I'm off sick atm and my sick note just says depression. My employer has been decent about it, partly because of ordinary human compassion and partly because it just doesn't make sense, as an employer, to let prejudice get in the way of continuing to use an effective human resource. xxx

Just be honest and open would be my advice. If they don't like it then they can get stuffed. I have had mental health problems that required sick leave. One employer let me go which I got compensation for as is was deemed discriminatory, and unfair dismissal. The other employer was very supportive with no issues. By law an employer is required to treat you fairly, and make reasonable adjustments if you have a disability.

This has happened to me twice (same employer). Both times, they were excellent about it and supported a phased return to work when I was feeling better but were also good at putting in place measures to support me. It also didn't hold me back when I was looking for a new job either. The most important thing now is to focus on yourself and get better. The job can wait.

I’ve been off sick for months with depression which at its worst meant I had 3 months in hospital when I was sectioned because of the risk to myself. My employers have been nothing but lovely and supportive. I’ve chosen to be very upfront and honest with them and so far that’s worked out well - when I was sickest I got my DH to communicate with them for me because I just couldn’t. My sick note has only ever said depression though and there’s no requirement for your GP to go into more detail if you don’t want them to - it might be that occupational health need to know a bit more but not your direct employer and not future employers once you’re well.
take care and get well soon.

I've had similar experiences in my past and haven't been honest with employers. I wish I had been. However, I have managed several people since who've been signed off with severe depression and I have enormous empathy and have done all I could do support a phased, if that helped them, return to work as and when they are ready. While they have been signed off, I've kept in touch with them weekly to understand how they are feeling, not about work in the slightest.

So many people have mental health issues today that it's nothing to be ashamed of or for anyone to discriminate against.

Don't worry about any of that for now. A day at a time, one foot in front of the other.

I’m sorry you’re going through this OP. I was in a similar situation a few years ago.

Now isn’t time for planning for work. Take this time to try and do some normal things. Maybe a coffee with a friend or even a sit in the garden.

FYI, after some intense therapy, medication and some time off I did return to work and I consider I have made a full recovery xx

Thank you everyone for so many helpful responses!

I just had another look at the fit note and it just states 'depression' without additional information.

I was rather agitated when she wrote it and was speaking to me about everything so somehow I thought that she had also written additional info about needing crisis support, the risk of self-harm and so on on the note.

It is interesting to read that many people have had supportive employers and chose to be upfront about their struggles.

My employer is a charity but frankly although they talk the talk about being a supportive employer and making thing of equality and diversity, the reality is quite different.

But I agree that for now this is not the current battle and I will just take it one day at the time.

I have had a similar experience fairly recently. I also needed time off - for me it wasn't a choice, I simply wasn't well enough to be at work whether I wanted to or not. I can't remember what my GP put on the fit note, but I was open with my manager anyway. it was the right thing to do as it meant he could support me back to work when I wanted to return - more quickly than I would have done had I not been open with him I think.

It's worked out well and I learned a lesson... I hadn't asked for adjustments I really needed when I started the job, so while work wasn't the main factor it made things worse, actually I work for a really supportive employer and I didn't give them the chance to make the accommodations I needed.

On the future, I'm about to start a new job and I've already discussed adjustments with them. You don't need to disclose all the details about your meds, self harm etc. I haven't had to explain my time off at all and I didn't actually need to go into any details. Once I start I will give my manager some light touch details so she's aware that sometimes I need to pull back a bit to stay well.

I've heard the charity sector is one of the worst for this sort of thing though... so great you're looking for something else, I hope you find somewhere soon.

On another note - don't put yourself under pressure to be well, that's not how it works, it takes as long as it takes and it usually takes less time if you approach it like that.

If it just says depression it will be absolutely fine. This is a really common reason for a fit note and your employer will have had people off with depression before.

Now concentrate on getting well again and follow all the medical advice. Plenty of time to think about work and what you want to share with them once you're well again.