Job center and mental health

dktreesea

busy_mom wrote: »

It was suggested I was an donut scoffing, coffee guzzling gossiping slob

Yes I am a gym bunny and exercise is clinically proven to support mental health issues and obese people are more likely to suffer from depression, health issues and anxiety. I suffered from post natal depression after my second child and going back to work and exercising certainly contributed to me getting better. Exercise plays a very big part in my families life style and we are all extremely healthy, eat healthy and very rarely ill.
So dktreesea if you are going to quote me do it in the correct context. I'm sorry to say that my job is to help people to help themselves i will not find a job for some-one. If a customer is claiming JSA then they are the ones who sign the declaration to say they are fit and able to work, if they are not they have the choice to claim ESA and face a medical. No-one is forced to do anything, they chose to claim benefits its comes with conditions. I, along with many others, cannot go to work and just do as I please and expect to get paid.
The OP hasn't worked for 4 years, she flits form benefit to benefit. Most people claiming JSA will state the lack of income and the boredom contributes to the depression. She will have bene offered help she needs to take it and make efforts to improve her life.

That may all be the case, but that doesn't give you the privilege, in your work, to think of people with physical challenges you don't suffer from, like obesity, as slobs, nor describe them as such.

bloolagoon

Just wanted to say the following

Would people expect someone with poor physical health to work?

Mental health is the same as physical health. You CAN work with poor physical health just like you CAN work with poor mental health. It isn't one size fits all. Work can be very therapeutic and assist with poor mental health, particularly if supportive, provides friendships and is enjoyable. It can be more beneficial than any form of therapy in the correct situation.

At times it is certainly not correct for them to work at the present time and can impact health greatly.

I just wanted to stats the above so people realise that you certainly can work if you want to BUT sufferers of very poor and often complex mental health are less likely to be able to communicate their needs, wants, feelings and limitations. Those without support can find JSA very daunting and frightening. So whilst not wanting people to think it means a life on benefits, work is distant or impossible - posters need to bear in mind that its like physical health, some are genuinely unable to (at this point) and JC staff certainly need some mental health training. I trained advisors in mental health first aid (yes it is a qualification just like physical health first aid) and it appears to have helped in my borough.

I am very pro work where appropriate but I see the appropriate. Some job centre staff have no idea of the harm they cause.

busy_mom_2

dktreesea wrote: »

That may all be the case, but that doesn't give you the privilege, in your work, to think of people with physical challenges you don't suffer from, like obesity, as slobs, nor describe them as such.

as far as I am aware I never refered to the people I work with as slobs, I stated I wasn't an obese slob after it was suggested I was.

busy_mom_2

bloolagoon wrote: »

Just wanted to say the following

Would people expect someone with poor physical health to work?

Mental health is the same as physical health. You CAN work with poor physical health just like you CAN work with poor mental health. It isn't one size fits all. Work can be very therapeutic and assist with poor mental health, particularly if supportive, provides friendships and is enjoyable. It can be more beneficial than any form of therapy in the correct situation.

At times it is certainly not correct for them to work at the present time and can impact health greatly.

I just wanted to stats the above so people realise that you certainly can work if you want to BUT sufferers of very poor and often complex mental health are less likely to be able to communicate their needs, wants, feelings and limitations. Those without support can find JSA very daunting and frightening. So whilst not wanting people to think it means a life on benefits, work is distant or impossible - posters need to bear in mind that its like physical health, some are genuinely unable to (at this point) and JC staff certainly need some mental health training. I trained advisors in mental health first aid (yes it is a qualification just like physical health first aid) and it appears to have helped in my borough.

I am very pro work where appropriate but I see the appropriate. Some job centre staff have no idea of the harm they cause.

It is impossible to train all JCP staff in all health issues, they have specialist adviser who do this and at least one in every office, there a physiologists in every district for support.
But we are talking about some people not making any efforts to move themselves forward at all over long periods of time. Conditionality for claiming jsa is being increased by the government not JCP staff.

bloolagoon

busy_mom wrote: »

It is impossible to train all JCP staff in all health issues, they have specialist adviser who do this and at least one in every office, there a physiologists in every district for support.
But we are talking about some people not making any efforts to move themselves forward at all over long periods of time. Conditionality for claiming jsa is being increased by the government not JCP staff.

I am we'll aware of the limitations and challenges involved and a huge supporter of moving forwards not backwards. BUT if someone was in front of you and bleeding heavily (physical) you'd deal with this, when its hidden you can damage. That isn't your fault, but something as simple as change of questioning style (same question different delivery) can be positive for you and them and will move their job search forward. I'm not talking kid gloves or not extending them but the ability to acknowledge their needs and act appropriately.

Statistically you as an advisor are more likely to have a mental health crisis/emergency than the need for a physical first aider, yet very few will train in mental health and have several first aid at work and/or appointed persons.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

it is not the job of the JCP staff or their advisors to diagnose or offer to assist in getting treatment or there otherwise.

~Chameleon~

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

it is not the job of the JCP staff or their advisors to diagnose or offer to assist in getting treatment or there otherwise.

Nobody is suggesting advisers either diagnose or offer treatment to people. What they are advocating is that people take mental health first aid courses, in the same way people take physical first aid courses.

This would enable them to then take appropriate action in the event a claimant should suffer a panic attack, psychotic episode or other mental health crisis.

It would also give insight into mental illness and offer advice in dealing with people appropriately to avoid increasing anxiety levels or causing distress.

bloolagoon

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

it is not the job of the JCP staff or their advisors to diagnose or offer to assist in getting treatment or there otherwise.

I am not suggesting it is, the course is also highly effective at preventative measures and awareness. Something as simple as awareness and a change in delivery can prevent harm. An encouraging nod, appreciation when they overcame a barrier and acknowledgement that this was a success and awareness of your own body language when dealing with others are small things for you, but often huge for those you deal with.

Seeing someone on the verge of an anxiety attack and slowing your own breathing, changing your own demeanour can prevent their anxiety, therefore more productive for all.

There are very few front facing staff who deal with mental health on a daily basis (police, teachers, job centre) who have awareness and can read cues of potential distress.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

each MH illness is unique to that person, no matter what "MH crash course" you take every situation you face with a MH sufferer will be different.

being treated as person rather than seen as sensitive unpredictable time bomb is more reasuring than somthing learned on a day course.

a stranger trying to comfort a social anxiety attack can make the attack worse because they dont know that person and so on.

the course in practice can help staff understand what the person is going through, but every situation wont be the same, and something your not trained for.

dktreesea

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

each MH illness is unique to that person, no matter what "MH crash course" you take every situation you face with a MH sufferer will be different.

being treated as person rather than seen as sensitive unpredictable time bomb is more reasuring than somthing learned on a day course.

a stranger trying to comfort a social anxiety attack can make the attack worse because they dont know that person and so on.

the course in practice can help staff understand what the person is going through, but every situation wont be the same, and something your not trained for.

Oh, if only the JCP staff with their "I'm a gym bunny and proud of it! So should you be" attitudes would take a dose of your medicine when it comes to providing a service to their clients!

So far on this thread I have read plenty about what job centre advisors are not meant/expected to do. They sound like jobsworths not worth the salaries our taxes pay them. It's about time we dumped people in the public sector with bad attitudes towards their clients and hired people with the appropriate skills. Having the appropriate training to deal sympathetically with people on JSA who have mental health issues would be high on my list of priorities.