Following Up Distressed
Personnel
The purpose of this section is to orient
leaders and other members to the importance of following up
after an individual has received assistance with a
difficult life event or distress. This is
particularly important following an inpatient psychiatric
hospitalization, and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment
Program .
For many problems, such as
depression, support needs to occur throughout the course
of treatment. Some episodes of mental health problems
can return after previous improvement. Effective
follow-up by leadership can help prevent relapse and ensure
that further assistance is given if problems do reoccur.
Leaders and members see affected individuals more often than
counselors and usually know more about their life
circumstances. As such, they are in a better position
to give preventive messages, spot indications of relapse,
and support individuals during their recovery.
The most powerful and helpful message
leadership can send to a distressed individual is to say,
"We care about you and will assist you in any way we can."
That message continues to be powerful and helpful throughout
an individual’s recovery.
As the member’s level of distress
diminishes, it is important to reevaluate the plans and
supportive measures that have been put in place by
peers, leaders and helping agencies. Leaders
should contact helping agencies and relate any concerns
about risk for
self-harm or other
job related safety issues, including managing
potentially dangerous tasks such as operating heavy
machinery or weapons bearing duties. If an individual
is hospitalized, periodic visits by members of the unit are
usually very helpful, if the person consents to these
visits, as they show that people care.
- Be aware:
- The person may feel
ashamed or embarrassed that he/she is in
treatment.
- The person may feel
overwhelmed by their current
responsibilities.
- Person may experience
loss of self confidence stemming from
current difficulties.
- Communicate your support by
emphasizing that:
- It is a sign of strength
to seek treatment.
- You are committed to
assisting them.
- You value their
contributions to the unit and want them to
return to full functioning.
- Provide frequent inquiries about
the member's well-being.
- Ensure time is provided for
appointments with helping agencies.
- Support their participation in
self-care activities, even if it means some
reasonable lost time at work.
- Consult with mental health
providers if appropriate.
Supportive measures also differ depending
upon the individual’s circumstances. For instance, the
type and intensity of support should differ for a person
just released from a psychiatric unit following a serious
suicide attempt versus a person who is seeking
counseling for an ongoing marital problem. Because of
those differences, specific suggestions are given below for
common follow-up scenarios.
If the member is hospitalized:
- Visit (if they consent to having
visitors).
- Contact family to offer support.
- Express caring/concern and
encourage member to cooperate with caregivers
(providers).
When the member is released from
psychiatric hospitalization:
- Consult with provider about
aftercare plan.
- Identify key personnel to check
in with member.
- Report concerning behaviors to
provider.
- Continue support to individual’s
family.
If the member is being seen for
psychological treatment but difficulties or distress is not
apparent in the workplace:
- Respect member’s privacy.
- Support their choice to get help.
If the member is being seen and
difficulties and distress are apparent in the workplace:
- Consult with mental health
providers (providers will be limited in details they
can reveal but may be able to offer suggestions for
enhancing support in the unit).
- Discuss with provider ways in
which you might collaborate in treatment.
- Encourage ongoing use of
services.
- Inquire as to how work demands
may be contributing to difficulties.
- Provide concrete feedback about
work tasks.
- Arrange for extra supervision, if
needed.
Coworkers may notice
job performance problems before such problems become
evident to supervisors. Encourage select coworkers to
proactively reach out to support the unit member during
their period of recovery.
- Follow-up with helping agency
personnel and relay any observations that may be
helpful for continued support or treatment.
- Keep in mind that individuals who
have a history of significant behavioral health
history including depression and suicide attempts
may be at risk for problems down the road. It is
crucial to emphasize compliance if they are in
treatment.
- For helping with continued
problems, including dealing with personnel life
stressors, follow-up by asking if further support is
needed, since this provides an opportunity to assess
if the member's situation has improved or has
deteriorated.
- Given that
suicidal states vary over time, it is essential
for the leaders to continually monitor, and assess
the general status of the unit member.
Providers can stay involved in the member’s
management and provide ongoing support to the unit in an
appropriate way even when formal treatment is not desired.
National Institute of Mental Health
website:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
- Lukens, E. P. (2002). Promoting community
awareness to enhance mental health. Health and
Social Work, 27, 83-88.
- Mead S. (2001). Peer support; a theoretical
perspective, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal,
25:134-141.
- Mechanic, D., Bilder, S., & McAlpine, D. (2002).
Employing person with serious mental illness. Health
Affairs, 21, 242-53.
- Riffer, N. W. (2000). Working responsibly with
employees with a psychiatric disability.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 23,
281-284.
- Roman, P. M.,& Blum, T. C. (2002). The workplace
and alcohol problem prevention. Alcohol Research
and Health, 26, 49-57.
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