Discussion How did your attempt affect your job?

[Suicidal4Ever]

I'm curious to know how did your suicide attempts affect your job. I know a lot of failed attempts put people in the mental hospital and i want to know does your job find out or do you have to explain where you've been for days or weeks or do you just get fired.

 

[JustAboutDone]

That is a really good question. It depends on your contract for "sick leave" for me, many years ago my contract included a set number of months off on a specific pay amount. I had to supply a Doctors note each month (they just wrote 'depression' ) and someone from work HR visited me a few times to try and ask some questions before I went back to work.

 

[Firecaste]

Think there are laws about how and why you can fire someone, at least here in the UK, doctors don't have to disclose anything you did, unless it's absolutely necessary, if you did get fired for being detained in a psych ward, you could probably pursue legal action? Discrimination against mental illness or something? Can't comment on other countries.

 

[Shewaitsforme]

I took ketamine, wrote a note. I wasnt 100% trying to end my life just didnt care if i woke up or not. My friend called and i answered the phone, the ketamine kicked in at sone point and next thibg i know two paramedics were im my bedroom. Thing is i work for the ambulance service at the same station as them. So a senior manager was called, i was taken to hospital, next day transfered to a mental health hospital by yet again 2 other of my collegues. So work were fully aware, i had to call in sick. Was kept off a further month after coming out of hospital. I was allowed back to work in december but told there was a chance i would be sacked due to having ketamine and not disclosing in my application i had been sectioned in 2008 also. Yesterday i was told the investigation has been fully dropped, im free to continue in my role and progress as normal. Its taken 5 months to be fully signed off fit for work (i was on light duties for abit) i have to agree to random drug and alcohol testing and just make sure mentally i let them know if im not feeling great. Its for patient protection too as im around serious medications and death everyday. I still have the suicidal thoughts but no urge to act on them, work actually keeps me stable, i love being in my green uniform helping others. I deal with mental health patients, take them into hospital but tbh they actually warm to me better than my collegues because i wont ever judge them, i was them sat there wanting to die so so bad, making plans, getting sectioned. I tell them dont let the uniform fool you i understand the constant internal fight between dying and living. It was hard as a patuent was told i work for the NHS and i was attacked on the ward but i never once thought i was above them, i was in awe some people have been through so much for so long. I lost my partner and was accused of basically letting her kill herself. Im still healing and this site is my rock still, i still have my SN stored away. Life isnt 100% back to normal it may not be for years but the NHS have been brilliant i cant thank them for enough for not giving up on me as a collegue and person

 

[JustAboutDone]

@Shewaitsforme
I don't know what to say
I think you're very special. You have been through the worst time, I can't even start to begin to think of your pain and I thank you for doing your job while you are still hurting and
I don't know. You are a very special person. X

 

[brighter]

@Shewaitsforme
I don't know what to say
I think you're very special. You have been through the worst time, I can't even start to begin to think of your pain and I thank you for doing your job while you are still hurting and
I don't know. You are a very special person. X

I always see you spreading love and it makes my day better. Thanks :)

 

[Lara Francis]

I'm curious to know how did your suicide attempts affect your job. I know a lot of failed attempts put people in the mental hospital and i want to know does your job find out or do you have to explain where you've been for days or weeks or do you just get fired.

I was put on compassionate leave for a while but my contract was ended after multiple attempts.
My job is still available though when i am able to go back.They have been very understanding but have to follow procedures in regards to safety.

 

[cherub]

My last attempt(two years ago) resulted in me losing/quitting my job shortly after being discharged from the psych unit.

 

[Pointlessabyss]

Eurgh I took 10 weeks of absent with full pay ( sick note provided ) Fortunately I couldn't bring myself to call work so my parents took control. After speaking to therapists only reason I wasn't admitted was due to living with my parents / a safety net even though I sort of had access to my method my parents were holding it without knowing. Had home therapy 3-4 times a week for 8 weeks only to be told I had missed the DBT course due to it being full and it wouldn't start until March... at which point I was bored and was like what do I do now? At which point it was a new year, I rung work out of the blue and asked how quick could I return. HR said within 2 days, called my boss signed myself out of the homecare team, now I've been in work for around a month and regretting my decision. Work hasn't changed really as I portray to everyone I am fine and apart from my boss / HR everyone thinks I had a stomach bug... Sort of fucked it up really as due to the absence from uni they have recommended I take an interruption of studies which makes me feel like a failure and I can't bring myself to tell anyone.

So yeah works been great in fairness, I've been a dick but love that self sabotage button!

 

[Suicidal4Ever]

Eurgh I took 10 weeks of absent with full pay ( sick note provided ) Fortunately I couldn't bring myself to call work so my parents took control. After speaking to therapists only reason I wasn't admitted was due to living with my parents / a safety net even though I sort of had access to my method my parents were holding it without knowing. Had home therapy 3-4 times a week for 8 weeks only to be told I had missed the DBT course due to it being full and it wouldn't start until March... at which point I was bored and was like what do I do now? At which point it was a new year, I rung work out of the blue and asked how quick could I return. HR said within 2 days, called my boss signed myself out of the homecare team, now I've been in work for around a month and regretting my decision. Work hasn't changed really as I portray to everyone I am fine and apart from my boss / HR everyone thinks I had a stomach bug... Sort of fucked it up really as due to the absence from uni they have recommended I take an interruption of studies which makes me feel like a failure and I can't bring myself to tell anyone.

So yeah works been great in fairness, I've been a dick but love that self sabotage button!

That's nice that your boss didn't tell all your coworkers your buisness. Where i work all they do is gossip so im sure news would spread like wildfire and it would be super awkward.

 

[Pointlessabyss]

That's nice that your boss didn't tell all your coworkers your buisness. Where i work all they do is gossip so im sure news would spread like wildfire and it would be super awkward.

I'm a fairly open book so I have actually told 3-4 people I work closely with. Which my boss didn't actually like. Problem is I've told them I've been diagnosed with BPD and they don't actually understand. My back to work with my boss was a 2 minute chat and signing some forms which he didn't care about, he didn't even note what I had or medication I was on which I corrected before sending the form to HR as I know I ll need time off for the course come March... as I report to the operations director all he cared about is not having me on the sick so it's looks better on his KPI's. I was actually offered a further 3 months off by my therapists but due to a different member turning up it wasn't consistent enough for me. Why I thought I'd run on my own.

Made it to 26 so far so with 3 attempts so things can't be that bad... think I need to hit rock bottom again to work my way up I only last on jobs 2-3 years and get bored.