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Work Related Issues. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
You may feel that you are ready to start working, return to work, work more hours, change jobs or make some other changes in your work situation. If so, you may want to develop a special Wellness Recovery Action Plan to address these issues, or you may want to include them in a WRAP you have already developed for yourself or one you plan to develop.Answering the following questions and reviewing the sample WRAP for work may help you with this.
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Questions you may want to consider if you are not working:
What would be my ideal job?How many hours a day and how many
days a week can I realistically work? How much can I work and still be able
to do the things I know I need to do to keep myself well?
Do I need regular hours or would a flexible schedule be better for me?
Is it really the best thing for me to do right now?
Why do I want to work? How would it benefit me?
How do I know I am ready to work? What are the special talents, abilities,
and experience that I would bring to a job?
Continued
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Do I need more education or training to get the job I want? If so, how could I make that happen?
Would I prefer to be self employed or to work for someone else?
What accommodations would I need from an employer to be able to work?
What would I tell employers about my mental health related issues?
Can I share a work space with others or do I need private space to work?
Could I consider working for someone else from my home?
How would getting a job affect my family life, social life and other responsibilities?
What changes do I need to make in my life in order to be able to work? How can I make these changes?
Continued
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Do I have transportation to get to a job site? If not, what could I do about it?
Will I need new or different clothes if I have a job? If so, how can I get them?
What resources are available in the community that would help me find and keep a job?
What will I do to take care of myself
when I am workingHow I will relieve work related
stress?How I will know when I can’t work?How I will know when it is not the
right job for me or when I need to change jobs, work fewer hours, or quit? How will I make these changes happen?
Who can assist me and support me as I look for work and begin working?
Continued
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
What steps do I need to take to find work that suits me? For instance, I could: Contact a vocational rehabilitation
or employment counselor Enroll in a training or educational
program Visit the local Employment and
Training office Take some skills or aptitude tests Talk to some of my supporters to
get their feedback Gather information on child care
and transportation options Contact potential employers
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
What changes do I need to make in my current work situation and why do I need to make them?
Am I ready to make these change? How could I make these changes? Does the job I have now make my life
better or more difficult? If my job makes my life more difficult,
what could I do to change that? Do my employer and the other
employeestreat me well? If not, what can I do to change that?
Be advised: Many people who try to doshift work or work at night find it causes an increase in troubling and distressing symptoms. If you are in such a position and are having a hard time, this may be the reason. You may want to avoid such positions or have your work schedule modified.
Changing Your Current Work Situation
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
(Sample)
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Below is a list of possible work related wellness tools. You can think of many others.
Getting to bed by 10 PM on work nights
Getting up at 7 AM on work daysGetting my clothes ready for workBuying clothesArranging transportationMaking lunch and snacksRelaxation and stress reduction
techniquesTalk to my employerTalk to my co-workersTalk to a supporterTalk to my vocational
rehabilitation counselor
See my counselorCall my health care providerArrange child care
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
How I work when I am wellI get to work on timeI usually stay focusedI am able to work together
with my co-workersI can accept kind criticismI am flexible and easy to
work with
I am:responsiblecreativecan make good decisions based on common sense
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Things I need to do every day to stay well when I am working:
Get to bed at 11 pm and get up at 7 am
Eat a healthy breakfast and dinner
Pack my lunch and lunch for the children
Set out my clothes for work the night before
Take a shower and dressDo at least two stress
reduction exercises each day
Transport childrenDo everything on my
personal Daily Maintenance Plan
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Things I might need to do:Buy bus ticketsGet the car fixedGet gas in the carBuy groceriesCall my health care providerDo the laundryBuy some new clothesArrange an appointment with
a care provider or family member
Set up an appointment with a vocational counselor
Check in with my vocational counselor about my benefits
Peer counselMeet with my boss
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
List those things that if they happened at work or were in some way related to work might upset you.
Having a disagreement with a co-worker
Making a big mistakeBeing corrected by your employerBeing notified that benefits are
being decreased
Losing child careEquipment break-downsSexual harassmentStigmaBeing passed over for a promotionHaving too much to doPeople at working not getting
along well with each other
Missing breaksTransportation problemsBeing late
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Triggers Action Plan
If I am triggered, depending on the trigger I might:
Take a five minute break and do some deep breathing
Speak to my employerContact my voc rehab counselorSpeak to co-workersArrange to have dinner with a
supporterDo extra stress reduction
exercisesTake a day offArrange an appointment with my
counselor
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Not looking forward to going to work
Not wanting to go to workBeing lateFalling behind in my tasksAnxietyIrritabilityDifficulty doing what I need
to doMessy work spaceCry easilyInability to concentrateForgetting thingsLosing things
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Early Warning Signs Action Plan
If I notice several of these early warning signs I will do the following:
Take a personal day and do something or several things I really enjoy
Spend time doing only relaxing or fun things in the evening
Talk to a supporter each dayPeer counsel once a dayDo a focusing exerciseArrange a special visit with my
counselorAsk for help with specific tasksTemporarily shorten my work
hoursNegotiate job changes
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
The following signs will let me know that I am feeling much worse:
Feel like I am dragging myself to work
Miss the bus three days in a rowFighting with my co-workersVery irritableMaking many mistakesUnable to stay focused on my work
for more than a few minutes
Taking unsafe risksUnable to pay attention when
others are talking to me
Can’t readFeeling very anxiousSweating excessively
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
When Things have Gotten Much Worse Action Plan
If I notice several signs that things have gotten much worse I must do all
of the following:Arrange to take at least three
days offDiscuss my situation with my
employerTalk to my vocational counselorTalk to my care providerEach day at least:One Peer counseling sessionTwo focusing exercisesSpend at least two hours each
day doing things I enjoy
Consider making some job changes— take action if appropriate
If necessary, contact my state agency of protection and advocacy
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
If you are in a crisis, ask your supporters to assist you and to follow the crisis plan in your personal WRAP
Be sure the plan tells them to contact your employer, who you want to contact your employer and what you want them to tell your employer. You may want them to call her or him with updates as you feel better.
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
After you have been in a crisis and have been out of work for some time, you may have to carefully consider if, when, and how you will return to work. Questions you might need to ask yourself include:
What role did work play in causing
this crisis?Is there something about the work
I need to change?
Do I need to talk to my employer to negotiate some changes in my work?
Do I need to work fewer hours?Should I resign and look for a
different job? If so, how should I proceed?
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
In the timetable for resuming responsibilities section of your personal WRAP, you could plan something like the following (you may need to revise this plan as you proceed):Responsibility:
Going back to workWho has been doing this for me: My co-workers have taken over my data entry work and Susan took responsibility for my classesWhile I am resuming this responsibility I need:To be sure I do everything on my Daily Maintenance PlanMy spouse to continue doing my household choresFull time child care
Continued
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Plan for resuming workThree days after I determine I
am in the post crisis stage, I will go back to work for 2 hours a day for five days
For one week go back to work half time
For one week work 3/4 timeResume full work schedule
August, 2002 Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
Check out the following resources which may give you guidance and help answer your work-related questions.
Your public library The internet: If you do not know
how to use the internet, or do not have the needed equipment, most libraries now have computers you can use and can help you learn how to use the computer and access the internet.
Your State Department of Employment and Training
Vocational Rehabilitation ServicesNational Rehabilitation Information
Center ABLEDATA
Database of Assistive Technology8455 Colesville Road Suite 935Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319
V/TT: 800/227-0216 or 301/589-3563
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