Comments on: The winners of “Tackling Mood Disorders in the Workplace” writing competition

By: Dina Skoumbourdis

Dina Skoumbourdis — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:05:40 +0000

I WOULD LIKE MY NAME , FIRST AND SURNAME AND MY COMMENTS REMOVED FROM THIS SITE AND NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO READ ASAP!!!!!

By: Dina Skoumbourdis

Dina Skoumbourdis — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:03:14 +0000

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:33:55 +0000

I tend to agree with alot of the comments made so far. In an ideal world employers would be always checking in with their workers and adjusting work loads so that they match the workforce.

By: Margaret White

Margaret White — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:55:57 +0000

My one wish - freedom from the fear of being “found out”.

My work performance suffers when I am unwell. I have had unsatisfactory performance reviews and have lost jobs as a result. But I’m too afraid to tell people the true reason.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:49:01 +0000

Thanks Graeme, and “The One Minute Teacher” by Spencer Johnson sounds interesting too.

I just wish to be in an environment where effort and application are enough - not some weird ‘personality contest’ where, if you don’t fit the mould, you’re on the outer.

I said to my friend the other day, that I was a year younger than my Grandmother was (53) - when I was born; she was a happy, middle aged woman, who chose to work - as a part time ‘tea lady’ for some ‘pin money’, as she called it.

And if laws hadn’t changed i.e. to have women’s retirement raised from 60 to 65, I wouldn’t even have to consider updating my qualifications to ensure that I am employable.

When I first started nursing, we were paid trainees.. now WE pay to update qualifications that employers insist that we have, in order to ‘Maintain Standards’.

Anyway, I know that this is not quite the forum for this debate, save to say, that I fight my own depression, without tablets or councelling, and am just grateful for an ‘ear’.

By: Graeme

Graeme — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:00:53 +0000

Hi Amanda,
Treating someone without respect should never be tolerated. I don’t know why people get off on this. With regard to coping strategies it is important to detach ourselves from this type of interaction. Anyone who lashes out like that is obviously not very happy themselves. Try being sorry for her and really grateful that you are not like that yourself.

Having said that, it is important that people like this know that their behaviour is not acceptable. You may consider writing her a note and explaining the impact her behaviour had on your self esteem and how counter productive it is to personal development (the business she is supposed to be in).

If you want to read a great book about how the learning environment should be see “The One Minute Teacher” by Spencer Johnson - very short but impactful book about creating the right learning environment. Sounds like everyone in the faculty should read it.
Hang in there and don’t take it personally (hard I know)
Kind Regards
Graeme

By: Graeme

Graeme — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:48:57 +0000

Hi Karen,
Yes I can certainly relate to how disabling it is when in the full throes of depression. The worst thing is that it is very difficult to remember being well. Despite how you feel you’ve lost yourself, know that it isn’t permanent.

Hopefully you are working with competent mental health professionals - if not this should be a priority. With regards to self help - I cannot stress how important it is to exercise regularly - I know you probably don’t feel like it but I know it is possible even if you start with very modest goals. You should aim to build it up to 30-40 minutes walk 6 days a week. You may even consider enrolling in my next free webinar - you can do that on the homepage of my site.
Hang in there and may the best in life and love and happiness be ahead of you.
Kind Regards
Graeme

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:44:52 +0000

Hi Graeme,
I just learned of your website yesterday, through a friend. I feel great compassion reading of your personal journey, and the experiences of others. Thanks for offering a forum for sharing feelings and ideas. I live in the U.S., where attitudes about depression and mental illness are still quite taboo in the workplace and elsewhere. I am currently unable to work, and struggle to even do volunteer work. I’m a Physician Assistant, and functioned at a very high level for many years, but have been suffering from disabling depression for over a year now. I feel like I’ve lost my personality, and my sense of self. If you can relate to this, I’d love to hear from you. If not, I’ll keep trying to find another way back to ME. Thanks.
Karen

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:52:04 +0000

Question from Graeme: ‘If a genie could grant you one wish, what would you like to see your leadership team DOING differently to significantly improve how depression and anxiety are managed in the workplace.’

I would ask that the Genie ensure that the ‘Leadership Team’ were not the CAUSE of it in the first place. Workplace bullying - ( does the term ‘horizontal violence’ still have currency?) - I would like to see professional attitudes RULE! - period.

I am a (nearly) 52 year old ’student’ of nursing - I recently asked about a result of an exam that we’d sat and was spoken to as if I were a recalcitrant child (by the female coordinator - around mid 30’s) ” You were told, were you not, that the results would be available 2 weeks from the time you sat the exam!” she scathingly replied to my enquiry.

(In fact, we’d been told by the class teacher, that they’d be available at the end of the day, prior to my enqiry)

The point is, that I am not attending a rehab for juvenile deliquents, I am in an ‘adult learning centre’ and have applied myself to all tasks set, with a lot of care and effort.

I was crushed and humiliated by her response: attacking someone else’s dignity to ‘put them in their place’ is unwarranted and unacceptable.

I have just sat my last written exam and have a ‘prac’ exam next Thursday, I am constantly anxious and today, quite depressed.

The ‘delivery method’ of this course has left me feeling undermined, and uncertain of my own abilities to deliver what is required, inspite of achieving moderately good results in the last two exams.

I entered the course feeling a confident and reasonably worthy person; I now feel uncertain and not at all sure I want to continue in the profession.

Nursing IS renowned for its hierarchical structure, however it appears that there is a distinct correlation between the intimidation experienced by some staff - and the attrition rate in employees ( who choose to go ‘nurse bank’ or agency - to keep out of the ‘fray of politics’ and other unpleasantness in nursing.

I have remained in nursing (unsurprisingly, as ‘nurse-bank’ - agency - predomininantly in psychiatry .. lol!) for this reason, myself; and I’m currently in the process of updating/upgrading my qualifications, to enable me to continue to have a range of work experience and to ‘remain flexible’. Read: not get involved.

I believed myself out of target range - since I’m now older and was reasonably certain of achieving pass marks.

… but I am still finding myself to be ‘targeted’ by hostility which depresses me, and has the effect of undermining my potential to achieve to the best of my ability.

I consider this a serious problem, and I have reason to believe that others have been affected, not just in this course, but in the workplace.

Effective strategies for dealing with the problem would be helpful.

By: Graeme

Graeme — Sat, 09 May 2009 02:26:18 +0000

Hi Louise,
It is so hard to understand how disabling depression is until you experience it yourself.

That is why it is so beneficial to interact with others that are/or have been through the same thing. I cannot stress how important it is to get professional help and I’m so glad to hear you are going to see a GP soon.

Hang in there.
Kind Regards
Graeme