Losing job due to illness? Update 27/10

Wicked_witch

I'll try to keep it short. My 'adopted' adult daughter works for a major cinema on a zero hours contract, part time. Been there for a year and 3 months. She suffers from severe depression, further aggravated by abuse she has suffered at various points in her life. It is a genuine, diagnosed mental health problem, not 'the blues' etc. She is not currently on medication, as she is scared of taking any pills and has no local GP right now.

Her depression is affecting her work and now the company want her to leave because of it. They haven't sacked her, but may well do if it continues.

She called me yesterday to confess she has attempted suicide twice in the last week. I've talked to her, helped her make plans to join a surgery asap, that side of things is now as in control as it can be. But it will be a long haul back to good mental health and her employers are not likely to be supportive (to be fair, they need workers who can actually work!)

If they do 'let her go' what should she be doing to make sure she can stay in her shared flat and pay the bills? She will be looking for a new job, but I'm worried about sanctions, very long waits for jsa, complications if her employers are not allowed to just let her go etc. There have been so many rule changes recently that we're both at sea. She's also very unassertive and will certainly not be willing or able to fight for any rights she may have with her employers. I know this from experience.

cr1mson

I think you need to focus on the mental health issues at the moment. I think it is highly unlikely that she can go from trying to kill herself twice in last week to being in control of her issues.

Somebody with greater knowledge will hopefully reply with who she needs to approach to get help but think she needs more than just making a plan to join a surgery asap.

Good luck to both of you.

Wicked_witch

I completely agree with you. But when the NHS website advice is literally 'call the Samaritans' where on earth do you go from there?

whitewing

Perhaps you could go with her to the GP.

Why doesn't she want to take pills?

I am on anti depressants and they really help me. (The only caution I would have is for teenagers/young adults - read the packaging info).

I would think your daughter is beyond the stage of managing this alone. If she is having suicidal thoughts today, maybe you could get an appointment with the out of hours doctor.

cr1mson

Your post says you are in London. Would this be of any help?

http://www.maytree.org.uk/

This was just from googling.

You could of course present at A and E as it is not just for physical ailments.

Wicked_witch

I will be going to the GP with her once she is registered etc. Any support I can give her, she will have. It is mainly advice about the employment issue we need at the moment. I completely appreciate that her health is the priority but for her that is completely bound up in being able to fulfil her tenancy contract and pay bills.

Wicked_witch

cr1mson, thank you. We are in outer london/kent so I'll take a look. I know she can go to a&e but we have been there before and they just advised seeing the GP so...

Wicked_witch

Oh WW, her fear of becoming addicted/having access to something she could use to hurt herself is a major factor.

Flyonthewall

If she doesn't like taking pills and isn't currently with a GP perhaps a herbal option would be best (at least for now). She could show her employer that she is doing something to help her health problems. It will help her and hopefully she can get another job if the company still don't wish to keep her on or she just wants another job.

If she goes on benefits and has to deal with the job centre it will not help her mental health. She'll also probably find it easier to get another job while she's still working.

whitewing

Talk it thro with the GP.

Take her employment contract to MIND and maybe get some advice. There is potentially a different process for sickness than other absences , in that an employer potentially has to do more to adjust in those circumstances. So for health and for employment, potentially the best thing is to get her to a GP.

whitewing

Also, there are anti d's that have lower risks if she swallows the lot at once. And they would also be prescribed in quantities for a month. So it's not risk free but it may potentially be a lot less risk than continuing untreated.