Work Problems
Work can be beneficial for people's mental health and general wellbeing.
Statistics show that people who are unemployed are twice as likely to suffer from mental health problems in comparison to those who are employed.
If you are unemployed you may have experienced some of the following:
- Reduced physical activity and weight gain
- Use of illicit drugs
- Increased risk-taking among unemployed young men
- Reduced psychological wellbeing
- Increased smoking
- Increased alcohol consumption
There may be a number of reasons preventing you from returning to work, such as:
- Fear of what people may think
- Fear of stigmatisation or discrimination
- Loss of routine
- Anxiety at the prospect of returning to work
- Legal claims such as benefit entitlement
- Loss of contact with your employer
You do not need to be fully recovered from a mental health problem to be able to return to work, as many people who are suffering from a mental illness may actually see improvements in their symptoms if they are employed.
Being issued with a medical certificate from your G.P does not mean you have to stay off work, it is still your choice as to whether you feel able to work or not.
Self-help in returning to work
- Consider all the available options in relation to the support you can access and consider seeking help from a relevant agency. This can include your G.P, a therapist, information booklets, the job centre or a specialised service in your area.
- Outline what you would like to achieve and set small and manageable goals that you can achieve to help you in your progress towards returning to work.