Returning to work after a mental health setback? Here’s how to get the support you need

Chances are you know someone who has experienced a mental health setback, whether it be an anxiety disorder, post-natal depression or even feeling "really stressed for the last three years".

If a mental health setback has contributed to your being off work, the return to your job — or the start of a new one — can be a vulnerable time.

Cofounder and national director of psychological services at the Centre for Corporate Health Rachel Clements says this tricky time can be further confounded if working from home.

“It’s tough because people don’t have those everyday face-to-face affirmation that we can take for granted. Returning to work usually is filled with a lot of micro affirmations, like a smile as you step into an elevator, a chat where someone says, ‘Welcome back, we missed you’, getting a coffee with a colleague. These micro affirmations are so pivotal in keeping anxiety down.”

In the absence of these face-to-face signals, she says it’s easy to fall into a state of fear or suspicion.

“The fear centre of our brain can get very easily activated, by something minuscule, like someone in a meeting didn’t turn their camera on. Then you’ll be worried all day that the person didn’t turn their camera on because they don’t like you.”

“You can find yourself asking questions like: Am I doing a good job? Do people like me?”

“While a lot of people can relate to these feelings, imagine how it feels if you have a mental health vulnerability.”

Clements says organisations increasingly want to support their staff, but don’t always know how to, and it’s often helpful for staff to be honest and clear about their needs.

She says you’ll give yourself the best chance of a smooth reintegration back to employed life if you can work with your team to achieve the following things:

·?????Supportive leadership from your boss.

·?????A strong peer-to-peer relationship like a buddy who can check in once a day to ask about your challenges and wins as well as a plan to wind down at the end of the day.

·?????Valuable, achievable work that can be chunked into small wins.

“The message is there’s so much out there now about mental health, the stigma is changing and workplaces are open to having these conversations. One in three will experience a mental health condition in 12 months, so I think it’s important we have a high self awareness for ourselves and each other.

“When we get busy and task focused, remember to check in with yourselves and each other. If someone isn’t acting like themselves, it’s a good time to have a chat and as them if they’re OK.”

Today is RU OK? Day, where we are encouraged to check in with the people around us. If you want to keep the conversation going year round, here's a list of mental health advocates to follow on LinkedIn .

Have you ever returned to work after a mental health setback? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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