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Following Up Distressed Personnel

I.  Overview

 General Considerations

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.

 The Role of Leadership after Evaluation and Treatment

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.

 Supportive Measures When Following Up

• 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.

 Following Up if a Member is Hospitalized