Mind : ( 24/10/2012. )

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Work and mental health :4. : Getting support : Should I tell my employer if I have a mental health problem? If you have an ongoing mental health problem you m...

Getting support : Should I tell my employer if I have a mental health problem? If you have an ongoing mental health problem you may be unsure of who to tell about it, when to tell them and how much to tell. You may be worried about how they may react and the consequences. More often than not I just ‘put on a brave face’ and make sure at all costs that no-one notices if I'm struggling. Many employers now have positive policies on disability and equality at work and take a more positive view of mental health problems, which ought to mean that being open about your mental health is less of a risk. There are also laws in place to protect you at work if you are considered to be disabled because of a mental health problem (see Rights at work). However, you may still want to think about the risks and benefits before making a decision. The potential risks of disclosing something about your mental health include: •being teased or harassed by other employees •being assumed

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Work and mental health :3. : Workplace bullying What is workplace bullying? Workplace bullying is more than someone being bossy and occasionally having an ang...

Workplace bullying What is workplace bullying? Workplace bullying is more than someone being bossy and occasionally having an angry outburst about work targets. It is when someone persistently acts towards you in a way that hurts, criticises or victimises you. They can be quite obvious – shouting or swearing or humiliating you in front of colleagues; or more underhand – constantly criticising you, isolating you from colleagues, spreading malicious rumours about you or blaming you whenever things go wrong. Bullying can often: •undermine your ability, causing you to lose your self-confidence and self-esteem •intimidate you in a way that makes you feel very vulnerable, alone,angry and powerless •cause you stress •lead to anxiety and/or depression. What can I do if I’m being bullied? If you are being bullied, you have three choices: putting up with it; standing firm and taking action; or leaving your job. Putting up with it is likely to be damaging in the long term, bu

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Work and mental health :2. : Work and stress : What are the signs of stress? These are some of the typical signs of stress: Physical Psychological Behavio...

Work and stress : What are the signs of stress? These are some of the typical signs of stress: Physical Psychological Behavioural  tiredness anxiety increased smoking or drinking  a tight chest tearfulness withdrawal or aggression indigestion feeling low lateness headaches mood changes recklessness  appetite and weight changes indecision difficulty concentrating  joint and back pain loss of motivation increased sensitivity    low self-esteem.    What causes stress at work? While stress sometimes has its roots outside work, it is the most common cause of work-related illness. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms above, you may want to think about why. Here are some of the common causes of stress at work: •having too much or too little to do •work that is too difficult or too easy •the pressure of deadlines •shift work •physically demanding work •lack of control over what you do and how you do it •poor working conditions, e.g. high noise leve

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): De... : Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression :3. : Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression :3. : What causes depression? Depressi...

Being in paid employment is generally considered to be a good thing. It’s more than just a way of earning a living: it provides identity, contact and friendship with other people, a way of putting structure in your life, and an opportunity to meet goals and to contribute.  And while it's possible to embrace an alternative point of view, and thrive without paid work, unemployment is linked with poor physical and mental health, and poverty. However, paid employment brings its own pressures on your mental health.  It is  estimated that every year around 2 million people experience a health problem that they believe to have been caused by their current or past work: stress being the largest cause of work-related illnesses. Stress and bullying are the two main causes of mental distress at work. If you already have a mental health problem, maintaining paid employment can itself be a challenge: the usual pressures of work may sometimes make you feel worse, or you may feel that

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression :3. : Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression :3. : What causes depression? Depression varies very much from person to person and can happen for one ...

What can I do to help myself? An important thing to accept is that there are usually no instant solutions to problems in life. Solving problems involves time, energy and work. When you are feeling depressed, you may not be feeling energetic or motivated to work. But if you are able to take an active part in your treatment, it should help your situation. Break the cycle of negativity If you are starting to feel depressed it can be very easy to get into a cycle of automatic negative thoughts that then become difficult for you to challenge: you get depressed and then you get more depressed about being depressed. Being in a state of depression can then become a bigger problem than the actual difficulties that caused it in the first place. You need to make a conscious effort to break the hold that the depression has on you. Deciding to do something to help yourself is the most important step you can take. Try to recognise the pattern of negative thinking when you are doing i

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression :3. : What causes depression? Depression varies very much from person to person and can happen for one or more reasons. Occasionally it ...

What causes depression? Depression varies very much from person to person and can happen for one or more reasons. Occasionally it may appear for no obvious reason. Life events In many cases, the first time someone becomes depressed, it has been triggered by an unwelcome or traumatic event, such as being sacked, divorced, or physically or sexually assaulted. Loss Often events or experiences that trigger depression can also be seen as a loss of some kind. It could be following the actual death of someone close , a major life change (such as moving house or changing jobs), or simply moving from one phase of life into another, e.g. as you reach retirement, children leave home, or you come to realise that you may never have a family of your own. It’s not just the negative experience that causes the depression, but how we deal with it. If the feelings provoked are not expressed or explored at the time, they fester and contribute towards depression. Anger In some cases som

Mind : ( 24/10/2012. ): Depression : 2. : What are the symptoms of depression? The following are all symptoms of depression, and if you tick off five or more of any of them y...

What are the symptoms of depression? The following are all symptoms of depression, and if you tick off five or more of any of them you are probably depressed. My feelings : •I am low-spirited for much of the time, every day •I feel restless and agitated •I get tearful easily •I feel numb, empty and full of despair •I feel isolated and unable to relate to other people •I am unusually irritable or impatient •I find no pleasure in life or things I usually enjoy •I feel helpless •I have lost interest in sex •I am experiencing a sense of unreality My behaviour : •I’m not doing activities I usually enjoy •I am avoiding social events I usually enjoy •I have cut myself off from others and can’t ask for help •I am self-harming •I find it difficult to speak My thoughts : •I am having difficulty remembering things •I find it hard to concentrate or make decisions •I blame myself a lot and feel guilty about things •I have no self-confidence or self-esteem •I am

If you are depressed, you may feel that nothing can help. But this is untrue. Most people recover from bouts of depression, and some even look back on it as a useful experience, which forced them to take stock of their lives and make changes in their lifestyle. Understanding depression : If you are depressed, you may feel that nothing can help. But this is untrue. Most people recover from bouts of depression, and some even look back on it as a useful experience, which forced them to take stock of their lives and make changes in their lifestyle. What is depression? We often use the expression ‘I feel depressed’ when we’re feeling sad or miserable about life. Usually, these feelings pass in due course. But, if the feelings are interfering with your life and don't go away after a couple of weeks, or if they come back, over and over again, for a few days at a time, it could be a sign that you're depressed in the medical sense of the term. In its mildest form,