Case studies

Rachel had suffered from depression and anxiety for more than 10 years. When Rachels mother recently passed away she had a major relapse in her mental health condition. She has been absent from work for the last 8 weeks and is about to start working again. Although she is very eager to start working, she is terrified of going back to work. Especially using public transport is a huge barrier for her to overcome as she had her last panic attack in the bus. She finds it very helpful that the In Work Support team are able to support her physically on her way to her first day at work. She’s also been very appreciative of the In Work Support team mediated with her employer that she could increase her working hours gradually instead of starting fulltime straight away. Rachel finds it reassuring that whenever something happens at the workplace that she can count on the In Work Support team to ventilate and get some advice additional to the Inwork support programme. Rachel was also referred to a special bereavement programme, to help her deal with the loss of her mother.

Rachel is pleased that she approached In Work Support and has found services that she would not be aware of on her own. The Inwork support team will continue to monitor Rachel to persevere and maintain her mental health at work and help her to liaise with her employer.

Peggy has been working as a receptionist for the last 5 years at a big company. Due to a promotion she had an increase in tasks. Several weeks later Peggy noticed that she felt more stressed and that she had headaches more often. Months later she started to worry excessively and started to hyperventilate when she felt under enormous stress. Peggy felt very responsible all the time and even during her days off she couldn’t stop thinking about work.

When a colleague of her became long-term ill, Peggy took over her shifts to make sure that the reception was covered. Gradually Peggy’s disturbances became worse and up to a point where she called in sick. She went to the GP because she felt as if she couldn’t cope anymore.

The GP advised her to rest for the next two weeks. He also referred Peggy to the In Work Support programme as the cause of her disturbances has been work related. During the first session that Peggy had with the Inwork support advisor, it became clear that Peggy had difficulties in setting her boundaries and expressing her needs to her employer. She also didn’t know how to relax and how to stop worrying. In order to assist Peggy getting back to work and to reduce long-term absence, the Inwork support team liaised with her employer about the best way to support her when she gets back to work. Adjustments were made in the workplace and a temporary change in tasks had been advised. In the meantime Peggy used the exercises and learned how to relax, strengthen her style of coping and to set her boundaries. Additionally Peggy was referred to a counsellor to help her deal with her hyperventilation problems.

Peggy has now returned to work and is in weekly contact with her In Work Support advisor.

Henly is a branch manager of 7 shoe stores in central London.

One day he was asked to meet with his manager. There he heard that an employee who worked with him had accused Henly of illicit practices. Although the accusations appeared false, his employer didn’t believe Henly at that time and suspended him till further notice.

Henly couldn’t believe that his employer would come to such a conclusion! He felt mistreated and hurt as he had been giving it his all for the last 3 years. From that time onwards, Henly started to develop mental health issues. He noticed that he had difficulties sleeping, felt very frustrated and had developed low self-esteem. Triggered by the stress that he perceived, old traumas came to surface. He now had to deal with these issues all over again. He received a referral for the Inwork support programme through his GP because she felt additional help was necessary and that the origins of his problems were work related.

Henly felt hesitant entering the In Work Support programme, as he didn’t want his employer to know. The In Work Support team guaranteed confidentiality and wouldn’t contact his employer without his consent.

Henly entered the programme and found the support he received from the In Work Support team very beneficial. He felt less stressed, dealt with the anger he felt towards his employer and he could let the old trauma’s rest.

Since entering the In Work Support program Henly has now returned to work and is feeling a lot more able to handle the stresses at work.