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Old 07-03-2021, 09:50   #2666
GrimUpNorth
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Up North - Where It's Grim
Age: 58
Posts: 2,497
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Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.

For many years I felt there was a senior management culture where I work of if you couldn't see it then it wasn't happening. So if I severed my arm they'd do their best to make sure it couldn't happen again but if my mental health was being impacted by work procedures the council would do nothing to change the procedures even when they knew there was a problem.

Things started to change when someone in a different department who has complex mental health issues barged in to a senior management meeting and blocked the door and made them listen (wish I could have heard her as she was in a manic phase at the time and while it's not funny, she's the first to admit she could do stand up during that phase of her illness). The next day she tried to self harm but it went too far and she almost took her own life. Finally the penny dropped and things started to change.

There's 5 of us in my little team, but we're part of a bigger group of about 50. Over this past year I've had quite a few calls from people who are not having a great time and often it's just knowing there's someone there who will just listen and can help you if you really need it. I make sure I speak to everyone in my team at least weekly and they know if they need to they can call for a chat (or a scream!) any hour of the day or night.

I could go on as it's something I really do believe in but you can find out lots more here and I would urge anybody to encourage their employer/organisation to make sure they look after their people's mental health.
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