Gym?

[SAH]

I'm currently off work suffering with depression, when I was at work I used to like going to the Gym afterwards. If I was to visit the Gym while off work could I be dismissed, after all my argument would be that I currently have a mental condition, not a physical one and surely by excercising I would be helping my recovery?

[Kit]

I wouldn't think there would be a problem with going to the gym - as you say, it would be a self-help strategy. Being signed off work means that you are unable to carry out your job, not unable to move out of the house, do any activity etc.

[SAH]

Thanks for that Kit. I was worried that I might be sacked, or have people secretly taking photos of me in the Gym! But you've said exactly what I thought.

[andy hughes]

Go for it SAH - exercise is proven to be good for depression - if you are still worried, ask your GP for a note to your employer stating that exercise is helpful, but it doesn't mean you are ready for work yet - and when you are, you'll be back, but not until then.

[Elle]

I agree. Exercise releases endorphins into the body, which give people the natural high they get after a workout. I could barely muster up enough energy to get through the doors of my gym after a hard day's work, but I had more energy than I knew what to do with after an hours workout, and generally would be in a better mood.

[SAH]

Andy & Elle - Thanks for your support, it helps me a lot to hear your encouragement!

[Elle]

No problem SAH. The fact that you are trying to think of ways to help yourself shows that you are already on your way to recovery, considering how depression can sometimes make you feel like there is no point in trying. You will get through this.

[SAH]

Now you're making me blush Elle, but thanks anyway. I feel like I've had a counselling session in one night!

[dave_in_cw]

I'm no employment lawyer, but there's no way you could get the sack for that. It certainly would be regarded as activity to alleviate the symptoms of depression. By the way, are you on antidepressants? I'm sure you've covered this with your gp, but for what it's worth, I went on antidepressants in January (taking them for the whole of this year) and so far so good - they have really helped. Good luck.

[SAH]

dave_in-cw - I've been on antidepressants since February, they've helped me a bit, but not really enough, which is why I thought about going to the Gym. What worries me now is that I can't stay off work forever and when I return would they expect me to do the same job once I'd "recovered" because it was the work and the location that added to my depression at the time. If that was the case I'd be no better off, I'll just have to wait and see I suppose.

[Kit]

If they have any sense at all they will try and find out what was the root cause of your problems (if they don't know already - I don't know how much you have talked to your manager) and do everything feasible to alleviate it. I'm in the NHS; short staffing is a way of life so we work hard to keep people in work, because we know how difficult it will be to replace them - both the person, and the expertise that they have. Everyone who's been off sick, with mental health problems or otherwise, has an interview with their manager and, if necessary, occupational health, to decide what hours and work would be best for them. Sometimes people can go back to the same job if they phase into it gradually, other times we have to change what they're doing to enable them to carry on working. We can't sack people purely on the grounds that they can't do the job they used to be able to do. I'm not sure if this is just an NHS thing, or whether it applies to other areas as well - I hope so.

[SAH]

Kit - I can't really pinpoint what the exact reasons are for feeling the way I am, all I know is that everyday when I wake up I'm finding it a real effort just to get out of bed. It certainly hasn't helped being moved to a new location, which is to put it politely a complete dump and away from all the people I used to know, one things for sure though, I could never go back to that location again, but I'm quite prepared to do any work just so long as it can be at my previous location.

[Kit]

Personally I think they'd have difficulty justifying refusing a reasonable request. If you feel able to talk to your manager about it, you could discuss arrangements before you go back to work - any of our staff on long-term sick pop in informally now and then to update on progress and start discussing their return to work, and that way we have a good idea of what their needs might be. If your place isn't like that, and you're not in a position to be able to discuss it in confidence with Personnel, it's possibly worth discussing your employment rights with the CAB. It may help your present frame of mind to get some sort of certainty as to what your work legally can or can't do to your job.

[SAH]

Kit - Wish you worked with me, you sound very understanding. I think that at the end of the day any employer will always argue that they have offered you a position and that if you turn it down, they cannot then be held accountable. That said I also feel that wherever possible an employer should show some compassion towards an employee. I suppose I could always talk to an Occupational Health Advisor or the union if I'm worried about my situation.