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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Case Study: Katie

‘When I started at my current job, around three years ago, I
disclosed my mental health history because I didn’t want it to
sneak up and bite me in the backside like it has in the past.’

‘There seemed to be no issues with it at all and for the first year
everything went smoothly. Then some of my old problems crept
up (aided by some particularly stressful situations at work) and
I ended taking time off here and there. However, I was my own
worst enemy: those days when I couldn’t face even getting out
of bed I called in with ‘flu’ or a ‘virus’, not admitting my
real problems.’

‘After all, how do you tell your manager that you can’t work today
because you’re depressed? How do you explain to someone, who
isn’t sympathetic at the best of times, that there’s an emotional
force field keeping you inside your house?’

‘After around two years of random absences I’m on my final
warning. At my last Sickness Absence Review I explained that I’m
currently having a lot of problems and am receiving help from the
local mental health team but these were brushed aside because
none of the reasons for my days off were down to ‘mental health’.’

‘I am now struggling to make it into work on a daily basis but I just
can’t call in sick. If I’d just been honest then maybe management
would be more lenient?’

‘Lying about things definitely makes it worse. It drills a hole that
gets bigger and bigger and just can’t be covered up by more lies. I
still don’t fully understand why I lied in the first place. I guess the
embarrassment and shame of admitting that I couldn’t cope was
a big reason but I think my biggest fear was the reaction of the
bosses at work.’

‘I had no idea what they’d say or do in my circumstances. I know
for certain that the return-to-work forms we use after absences
aren’t created with mental illness in mind; you need to be able to
put something physical on them. The only part that might seem
relevant is the tick box that asks if you’re stressed! It’s like they
acknowledge that stress is an actual condition but they don’t
want to address it in any way. Unless it’s work-related, in which
case they’ll suggest the job isn’t for you anymore.’

Source: www.time-to-change.org.uk

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