Signed off with depression and need help

[justgina]

Hi all, I just found this site and hoped you could help me. I've worked on the counter at a crown office for over two years now but for the last 5 weeks I've been signed off work with "depression and work related stress". I'm seeing a pschciatric nurse tomorrow to be evaluated for future counseling and I'm on antidepression medication. My worries (among many!) are that I'm going to lose my job over this. I speak to my BM once a week who checks in to see how I'm doing and he keeps mentioning that I could talk to ATOS if I wanted. Frankly, I don't know what or who ATOS is but I did ask "wouldn't that just be more counseling?" to which he replied yes. So, I declined with reasoning that I'll already be talking to my doctors recommended counselor so what would be the point. But, what is ATOS and do you think it would help if I did talk to them? Also, what are my rights regarding being paid while I am signed off and keeping my job? I eventually want to return to work....apart from the constant insane pressure of targets and sales, the negativity of a few employees and a certain employee who I've always felt had it in for me...its a good job in theory and, call me sad, I enjoy helping my customers. But the last thing I want is to be forced back to work too early for fear of losing said job. I'm at a terrible low in my life at the moment but have to believe I will get better.....if I thought this was how I was going to feel forever then frankly I'd walk infront of a bus. Sorry, being morbid and going down a road thats not for this site but if you could give me advice regarding ATOS, my rights etc I would greatly appreciate it. JustG ps I am a union member if that helps.....should I talk to them?

[Gazabarnes]

Hello I work for RM as a postie many years ago I had a bout of depresion and was away from work with RM for 3 months my advice to you is as follows you are entitled to six months pay full and six months after that at half pay I was on antidepresants because my sleep and general existance was all over and I had a CPN and councleing and support from what was then RM occupational health take the offer of Ottis which is Post Office occupational health because when you are starting to feel better and you will with time you will find helpful a faised return to work which will be on full pay Ottis will recomend a faised return when you feel ready usually a gradual increase of hours over a given period of time also contact your local CWU rep on issues ie what you can and cannot do on returning along with Atoss keep in contact with your GP and also take the councling use the anti depresants they will help but will not solve the prob only you can do this I found that regular exercise realy helped try swimming maybe the Gym exercise helps the brain to release endorfins which helps to stabalise mood I know that when you are depressed its like been in a dark hole and no one to help but it will pass think about what is the prob and try to think of a salution that you can apply and keep off of the drink It was from my position that my wife who is a nurse then undertook phyciatric nursing and now is a occupational health advicer for the NHS so good things can come from what now will feel alien and out of your controll hope this helps things will get right

[game-events]

Hi.
Im a postie and had the same horrible condition. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, just remember that. Take all the ATOS help as they are not the Post Office, they are an independant group and will help you in taking as much time off as you need. They are there to help you and you won't lose your job through sickness with depression. Chin up, look in a mirror and smile.

[Stormproof]

I also was signed off with depression after working for 3 years in Callers so I know exactly what you are going through. Take up the offer to see ATOS. As you say you are seeing your GP's counsellor but in RMG eyes if you see ATOS they tend to believe what they say as very rarely will RM get in contact with your Doctor. It will probably be a telephone conversation, nothing more. Good luck with your recovery, I did'nt think I would get through it all but I did and I'm sure you can.

[MinisterofCucumber]

Dear justgina,

You are obviously suffering and your recovery should be the primary concern of everyone that cares about you. I think it is disgraceful that your BM contacts you weekly when the last thing you need is to be reminded of the circumstances that led to your current condition.

Avoid ATOS like the plague. I have studied RM advice to managers and they have devoted a lot of words to the importance of getting staff to go to ATOS. I don't believe they would put so much effort into something that just benefits you. The experience of other posters on this site backs this up.

Write to your BM and politely thank them for being concerned about your health but state that you find the weekly phone calls stressful and ask them to make all future communications in writing. Thank your BM for suggesting the services of ATOS but state that you have full confidence in the NHS and the treatment they are providing you. Finish by saying how important you feel your job is to you and your intention of returning to work as soon as is advisable by your health professionals. If you find this too stressful, ask someone close to you to write the letter on your behalf.

Best wishes on your recovery.

[feduppostie]

my advice - take ATOS and any other help that is offered

then forget about work and concentrate on getting better

nothing else matters except you being well

everything else can wait - you are the important thing at the minute - you are not alone loads of people suffer depression and come out the other side with help and guidance

concentrate on getting you better - the rest will sort itself out


If you need a friendly ear pm me \i may take a while but I will answer

Take care of you for a bit and best wishes to you xxxxxxxxx

[Lounge Lizard]

When off with work related anxiety, stress and depression for over the year the advice was just concentrate on getting better so that you can eventually go back, but they were wrong, I had had more than enough of that 'shower of bastards', never returned there and now have a much better, albeit lower paid, job.

[Sick Postie]

By all means talk to ATOS as your manager will see this as you taking all the help being offered, but be careful when you see them. They will try to push you into going back to work whether you are ready or not. This happened to a guy in our office, his GP said he should be off sick but ATOS said he was well enough to go back, so back he went and lasted about 4 days before going sick again. The first sick period triggered first stage warning and the second sick period of about another 4 months then triggered another warning, just what you don't need when off with work related stress. Don't agree to anything ATOS want you to do and make sure you take someone to the meeting who will speak out on your behalf, ATOS will try and shut them up but if you are unable to make decisions don't let them bully you. Depression is a terrible illness and until you go through it I don't think people really understand what it is like.

Take whatever time you need to get better and you will get better from this no matter how dark the world seems atm. You must keep taking your medication until your GP tells you to stop this may be quite a number of months after you think you are better. Don't let the stigma of depression get to you either, does it really matter if you need to take a tablet to cope, I have suffered from depression so I do know what you are going through but it will improve just give it time.

Take care and make time for you and you will come out the other side.

[MinisterofCucumber]

Are the ATOS employees who decide whether you are fit enough to go back to work better qualified and more experienced than your NHS General Practioner?

Does answering some questions over the phone override a face to face examination by your G.P ?

Do RM trust the NHS?

[General Mannerheim]

Are the ATOS employees who decide whether you are fit enough to go back to work better qualified and more experienced than your NHS General Practioner?

Does answering some questions over the phone override a face to face examination by your G.P ?

Do RM trust the NHS?

No they are not more qualified than your GP,infact most of them are nurses who have done a course on occupational health.
No, but try arguing with them and Royal Mail about it and they will say that Atos are better qualified to make a decision on a work based assessment.

Ha Ha yeah when it suits them...i.e IF your specialist says your unfit to work then they will have you out the door quicker than Jordan drops her knickers.

[MinisterofCucumber]

I found this annotation to a question asked about ATOS in Parliament on 14 July 2009:

"tony hill
Posted on 28 Sep 2009 12:42 pm (Report this annotation)

Atos healtcare is very hard to get information on. I believe that there are yet more backhanders going to our rulers for a company to get a contract whre they are obviously unable or unwilling to carry out the task. I am awaiting a hip replacement operation through a military injury, i had to attend a mediacal assesment with ATOS who against the considered medical opinion of both my gp and consultant surgeon have decided after a ten minute interview that i am fit for work, i am appealing but the illogic of this companies claims is mind boggling. then after all that i have recently discopvered that i am entitled to a war pension, not that the army told this to me when i was disabled out 20 years ago, bt the amount is dependant on a medical assesment, guess who! yes atos healtcare, seems that atos healtcare is not there to do anything but operate on an agenda that reduces costs to the government for money that any decent medical assesor would allow.sham on you greedy fat politicians who are not only letting our armed forces down with equipment in the wars they make us fight but also screwing them on benefits when thay are injured or killed. while you stick your faces in the fat expenses pot. how many flake vests would a duck house have bought."

I don't think ATOS are the sort of organisation that Royal Mail should be associated with.

I hope the CWU does something about this.

[corgi1998]

this is my first post and would like to say i feel for you my friend please dont worry about your job as this is probally making you worse just listen to what your doctor says and no one else .also talk to all your friends about it and family bring it out in the open you will start to feel better as now you probally feel there is something wrong with you(your ill not strange dont let the feelings win). I had it for a while and its horrible i know but you can beat it just think to yourself i was fine before and will be fine again this is just a blip in my life i have to deal with now.As for the tablets take them by all means if they help but i found that eating the right things exercise and no alcohol is a great way to start.Try not to dwell on your thoughts (i know its hard) just remenber they are thoughts that pass like any other.One more thing everbody at one time in thier life will suffer with this just some people dont know it you done the first step by admitting something is wrong which is very big leap in getting better mark my words.If you want support or any more advice on how i dealt with it just pm me please i am not a doctor but can tell you my storys which will make youfeel like your not alone. Good luck my friend and dont worry about work for gods sake.

p.s sorry for spelling mistakes and grammer not my strongest point(thats why i work in royal mail)

[justgina]

Wow, I am overwhelmed with your advice and kind words. Thank you all so very much. To update you all, I am still off work, still on the same meds, still not sleeping, and still feel really down a majority of the time. I have tried to take my GPs (and others) advice and get out and walk when I can (when the snows not so deep!) and do try to eat more healthy but when I get very down I tend to "comfort eat" which doesn't help in the long run. I did speak to an ATOS counseler a few days ago for a phone assessment and she was very kind, reassuring and understanding. But now I have another phone appt. with another counseler who is more geared toward helping me get back to work. Basically, to see that when I am ready to return if there is anything the RM can do to nake it easier. This all sounds good in theory but after reading the majority of your advice I am now very worried about talking to them. Although my first counseler reassured me they wouldn't expect me to return to work until I was ready (in her opinion that would be at least another month) I am now worried the second counseler may be more focused on doing just that. Should I cancel that appt. and just stick with the GPs recommended counseler or should I give ATOS another go?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Even with the love and wonderful support of my Mum and fella, depression still feels like a lonely place to be so it's really good to hear from other sufferers.

Gina