The business has actual medical / psychological qualifications to make such a determination?

Stress to one individual is a normal day for another, similarly what you perceive as abnormal behaviour could be very normal for that particular individuals mind.

You could suggest they take some leave however that action in itself could also be a trigger miss-construed as the employer no longer wants them. Standing them down could be even more inflamatory.

You can't make them attend a medical appointment and you certainly can't force them to engage with the provision all you will do is create a bigger wall - sure you want to go down that deep dark rabbit hole?

having made use of a couciling service a couple of times in my life - there is little benifit in trying to send someone until they admit they need the help. very difficult situation you find yourself in.

I agree that it is a difficult situation you find yourself in. Forcing counselling on someone can do more harm than good, as it is not the answer for everyone. Do you have access to an occupational health service? That might be worth a shot, but then if the employee is unwilling to engage with them it would be difficult to make them. Such services are usually employed when someone owns up to a problem or has been off sick. As Kate alludes to, a conversation with the person and leaving an open offer of assistance might be the most you can do at the moment. If the person's problems are affecting their performance or safety at work, then you will no doubt have a review process that can be insitigated, which might be an inroad into their problems.

Originally Posted by: stevedm

ONLY approach should be made by trained mental health first aider or referral to OH...

That contradicts the mesage in an awful lot of current campaign material e.g. https://www.time-to-chan...alth-stigma/tips-talking which is about everyone looking out for their workmates. I don't think we should be advocating that only trained mental health first aiders can talk about mental health.

I agree with achrn on this one: if you think someone is suffering some sort of mental issues the last you need is someone to turn up and say: “I am the trained  mental help support and I have been sent to sort your mental health  problems” (Inane grin optional). An approach from a colleague might be better (but not easier).  

Agreed. Consider how some emergency service workers cope with trauma, by talking to colleagues and supporting each other, rather than being forced into counselling, which is not what will help.

The mental health profession doesn't always help, I have to say. Diagnosis and treatment can often be determined by what is fashionable at the time, and can change. Often, the modern mantra of CBT is not what is required, but services have based their offering on this. Add into this the artifical split of services (e.g. psychosis and non-psychosis pathways), where the end result can be people being tossed from one pathway to another due to complex conditions not addressed in one go, and getting help can be a nightmare. Further add into this that mental health services have long been the Cinderella of the NHS, with inadequate provision of services, and the closure of hospital facilities that used to play a part in treatment, and it is no surprise that there has been a push to get organisations involved in it to try and fill the gaps.