Posted By Mike Herbert Does anyone out there have any experience of employees who may have this condition and suggest any additional support or risk control methods we should consider? For background the person is employed in a social care environment (substance misuse) as a project worker. It has just been brought to my attention and although i don't have any specific concerns i am aware that there may be a requirement for additional supervision and enhanced training. Medical advice has suggested they are fit for work but i am to be convinced the GP has properly grasped the nature of the work they do. I would just like some thoughts on other elements that i may not have considered. Many thanks. Mike.

Posted By Mike Herbert Thanks Bunny. I appreciate your comments and take them on board. This subject was brought to me by a senior manager who was expressing some concerns. I have no involvement in the process of hiring staff so i think that comment was a bit unneccessary and i am fully aware that a great many people have this and similar conditions and i personally hold no prejudices. I do not fully understand the consequences of such a condition and am doing research through 'Mind' as you suggest. I imagine that they are very intelligent and are in full control of their condition but this can be a sensitive area of work with other staff and service users to consider as well as their own welfare. For example, if they require medication and miss a day for whatever reason, what is likely/possible. My role is to help support people in their work where necessary. In this case i was actually quite taken aback by the attitude of the manager and wish to procure support for this worker if they require it. I am looking for guidance from colleagues who may have more knowledge on any potential H&S implications (if any...which personally i doubt). I apologise if the tone of my message suggested prejudice and will be more careful with my wording in any future posting.

Posted By Bunny Danny, I am cross because there are so many people at work with a huge range of medical conditions and on a huge range of prescription medication but employers don't know about it or if they do don't make a fuss about it. But as soon as a mental health problem is mentioned then employers and other employees start getting jumpy and assuming that they need to take precautions against that person becoming ill or causing harm to others. I would be more worried about the amount of overweight coach drivers who are a heart attack at the wheel waiting to happen. But nothing is said about them. As soon as a form of depresssion is mentioned then suddenly people start asking questions. Mike, Glad to see you've taken up my advice. I used to sit on a management committee for MIND and they are a wealth of information that is informmed and non-prejudiced. As a point of fact most people on any medication who skip a day could end up with adverse effects but I doubt you kow about half of the people on medication at the place you work. Of course then there are those on illegal drugs and heavy drinkers who you will also know nothing about but are the true accidents waiting to happen. My point to everyone is that there are plenty of people who either need additional support or who could create additional risk, through medical conditions, medications, illegal drugs, drink etc. It just seems that it always the one's with a mental illness who are highlighted as a potential problem. Those with mental illness have a hard enough time as it is without their condition being discussed and scrutinised by anyone and evryone. Everyone has a right to privacy and some dignity.

Posted By Bunny Mike, I wasn't preaching to you, I explained why I took the upper hand to Danny, congratulated you on taking up my advice to contact MIND and then continued by explaining my position to all readers of the thread. Although you state that if someone had diabetes you would be asking for advice that is exactly my point, most people wouldn't. Even though there are illness with far greater consequences than mental illness they are not brought up for discussion. Mental illness is flagged up by people as a problem becuase they are ignorant of the facts and believe the stereotype portrayed by the media. My point is that mental illness can prevent people getting work / or have their work open to scrutiny for no real reason. Someone can get a job when they are clinically obese without question. You have been asked to look at the potential impact of someone having bipolar disorder but I suspect that mangement does not share the same concern for people with other (less stereotyped) conditions. That is my point and it is a point for everyone, not just you.

Posted By Brett Day Bunny I can appreciate your view and that this is a 'pet' subject of yours but I think that you were a little harsh in your intitial response. Fair play to Mike for bothering to ask about something that is not his area of expertise.

Posted By Nigel Hammond Hi Mike I have a useful publication called 'Solutions at work' it provides help for employers to manage disability and the Disability Discrimination Act. It includes a chapter on mental health which has provided a useful start for tacking our Bi-Polar situation. ISBN No is 1-903894-03-4. It is published by the 'Employers Forum on Disability' Hope this helps. Regards Nigel

Posted By Bunny How dare you say that I would brush something like this under the carpet. You have absolutley no idea what you are talking about. That is the exact opposite of my approach to mental illness. Firstly I shall restate that i think the person should be approached directly for advice on what they may require for their individual illness. Unlike a lot of illness mental illness is very individual and even with a label such as 'bipolar disorder' it's effects can be vastly different on each individual. Secondly I shall restate that I feel this is not the right forum as health and safety professionals are not expereinced in such a complicated mental illnesses. Thirdly I shall restate that the implication for the post that the person may not be fit for the role they do because of their illness (last line about the doctor not understanding the nature of their work). Unless there was concern about the quality of this person's work before knowledge came to light about their illness, then it would be prejudicial to take issue about their competence just becuase knowledge of their illness has come to light. I agree completely that people's health problems, medication they are taking etc should be taken into account for the work that they are doing. My issue arises with the fact that so many illnesses and people taking medication is not known about and ignored but as soon as mental health is raised then people get jumpy. Wheteher you accept it or not there is prejudice about mental health is does prevent people getting work due to ignorance. The post came across to me as management wanting to find an excuse to say that this person is not capable of doing their job just because they have found out about the illness not because something has happened to question this person's competency.

Posted By Bunny "Medical advice has suggested they are fit for work but i am to be convinced the GP has properly grasped the nature of the work they do."

Posted By David-J-Jones I think that the important issue is that as Health and safety professionals,we are duty bound (morally and legally) to examine if a person suffering from a recognised medical condition is being adequatly supported at work. I would agree that the person must be fully consulted throughout. Having supported a close family member through many years of serious depression, can I just pass this comment,I have asked on many occasions, what is the difference between a mental health issue such as severe depression and say diabeties. Illness is illness and continuing to differentiate, perpetuates the stigma element that is being fought so hard against in these so called modern times. I was under the impression that the objective was to integrate not isolate.

Posted By Mike Herbert As i have tried to explain. I am attempting to support the person in their work as well as their colleagues. My comment about the GP possibly not grasping the full extent of their duties relates to the fact that this person has to work with and advise some people with very chaotic lives. As someone suffering from a depressive illness this can work in two ways. (and probably more ways than i can imagine) and i use this for illustrative purposes only. 1..They have a very thorough understanding of mental illness and issues through their own experiences and are well placed to give excellent advice and support to service users who do not have the luxury of similar sufficient care and support. 2.. The work with such chaotic clients may have the potential to trigger an episode of their own ( this from a conversation with the person involved). We operate a very inclusive and supportive organisation for all our staff and service users. We need to have information to support everyone at all stages and in all circumstances. My wish is to assist all staff achieve the best possible service in the safest environment. In order to attain this a great deal of give and take is necessary. Communication, cooperation and coordination is the name of the game. I believe i apologised for possible poor wording of my original post and am more concerned now with getting people back into work. It was not my intention to start any sort of slanging match. Bunny was expressing an opinion they are perfectly entitled to and pointed me in a useful direction and i now have a substantial amount of research on file. I thank those who have offered support and advice. This thread has shown how difficult it is to communicate emotions electronically and how easily simple throw away comments can be misunderstood. We live and learn eh... regards mike

Posted By Daniel Stonehouse If i suffered from a medical condition, be it mental illness, a mental disorder, a physical disorder or any other condition that may put me more at risk or more of a risk to others then i would expect the Occupational Health staff / Health and Safety people etc. etc. where i worked to take an interest in me. It seems as if there is the belief that each persons health: physical or mental, is their own business and does not involve any one else. Having carefully read all of the threads i do not believe that this is the case here and it is certainly not right to do this in the workplace. Tact, diplomacy and a strong respect for each individuals rights and private life obviously apply here. If an employer is not aware of an issue with an employee then they cannot protect them and create a safe place of work for them. Only by knowing all of the pertinent facts can a proper assessment of the risks e carried out and adequate control measures put into place. In particular i refer to the original poster stating that the persons work may trigger an episode of depression. Regards to all the H and S proffessionals out there. This is definitely a hot potato that should be handled with care, but must be handled at some stage.