The Mental Health Continuum

1. Supporting employees with more complex mental health conditionsRichard FrostEmployment Specialist Team Lead

2. The Mental Health Continuum Maximum mental wellbeing A person with a high level of mental wellbeing despite being diagnosed as mentally ill A person with a high level of mental wellbeing and no mental illness Minimal mental illness/ disorder Severe mental illness/ disorder A person with a mental illness and a low level of mental wellbeing A person with no diagnosable illnessbut who has a low level of mental wellbeing Minimal mental wellbeing • No absolutes (Adapted from “Mental Health Promotion: Paradigms and Practice”K Tudor 1996)

3. Complex Conditions • Bi-polar Disorder • Psychosis & Schizophrenia

4. Possible Causes Source: Adapted from NHS Southwark

5. Influencing Factors Source: Adapted from NHS Southwark

6. Signs of Mental Distress Erratic or unpredictable behaviour Agitation or overt anxiety Uninhibited behaviour Social withdrawal / avoidance of social interaction or contact Unexplained or prolonged crying Change or disturbance in eating / sleeping patterns Incoherent speech Paranoia Physical ill-health Hearing voices / hallucinations Behaviour inappropriate to the social context Any verbalised thoughts of suicide / harm Source: University of Liverpool

7. Recovery specialist services through good help and support at work medication psychological therapies Source: ACAS 2012

8. Influencing Factors Source: Adapted from NHS Southwark

9. 5 Ways to Wellbeing The concept of ‘wellbeing’ is more complex than being ‘well off’ or ‘happy’ and is generally understood to include two main elements: feeling good and functioning well. Devon Partnership NHS Trust 2011

10. 5 Ways to Wellbeing • Connect – with the people around you • Be Active – exercising makes you feel good • Take Notice – be aware of the world around you • Keep Learning – try something new • Give to others - do something for someone else www.fivewaystowellbeing.org New Economics Foundation 2008

11. WRAP • Daily Maintenance Plan - ‘What I’m like when I’m well’ and ‘Things to do daily to stay as well a possible’, • Wellness Tools • Identifying Triggers and an Action Plan • Identifying early warning signs • Go back to things to do daily and Action Plan

12. Main features of WRAP • Based on common sense and experience • Easy to use • Stresses how we all go through similar processes - but in very individual ways • May be solely for our own use or can be shared with others

13. WRAP Wellness Recovery Action Plan www.mentalhealthrecovery.com Feeling Stressed, Keeping Well www.mindfulemployer.net/support/publications

14. Supporting Presence, Managing Absence What happens in organisation to support staff who may have a mental health condition? Application stage, Interview, Post-Interview checks Supporting presence Managing Absence What works? What could be improved?

15. Supporting Presence, Managing Absence Mentally healthy, supportive work environment – informal and formal Regular supervision, appraisal & feedback Reasonable adjustments Keeping in touch & phased returns Mental health awareness training for line managers Liaison with GPs and health professionals

16. Signposts to further support – advice & information ACAS – www.acas.org.uk HelplineTel: 08457 474747 MIND – www.mind.org.uk Rethink – www.rethink.org MINDFUL EMPLOYER – www.mindfulemployer.net

17. MINDFUL EMPLOYER Line Managers’ Resource Being Mindful – half-day workshop for managers Being Aware – half-day workshop for staff Keeping Well at Work – workshop & booklet www.mindfulemployer.net

18. Thank YouRichard Frost01392 677050www.workways.org.ukwww.mindfulemployer.net