How employers can support staff with psychosis
James Lindsay
Senior Marketing Officer
Hertfordshire Mind Network
James works as Senior Marketing Officer for Hertfordshire Mind Network, a mental health charity. He is a published author of a book called 'Befriending My Brain' - a memoir about his experiences with psychosis and schizoaffective disorder. James is very passionate about getting his mental illnesses more coverage and awareness in the workplace and reducing the stigma. He has also made appearances on many podcasts, as well as blogs, articles, radio and television.
Employees with psychosis will need time off, how much time will depend on their other support networks, but mainly on how early their intervention was in terms of medication.
How employers can support staff with psychosis
For those unsure of what psychosis (or a psychotic episode) means, it is when your perception of reality becomes very different from those around you. It often involves delusions, hallucinations, bizarre and unusual thoughts, and rapidly talking.
I have experienced it myself in 2016 following a breakup with my ex-partner. I was sectioned for 4 weeks and had to live in a psychiatric ward, this was followed by some months off work and then a phased return. I also suffered from a relapse in 2019, needing to take sick leave once more (different employer) and return to work gradually.
So it goes without saying that any employees with psychosis will need time off, how much time will depend on their other support networks, but mainly on how early their intervention was in terms of medication.
Tips on how employers can support their employees with psychosis:
- A phased return to work is critical, going straight back into work could result in stress and a higher risk of relapse
- Flexible working - Another thing that helped me ease back into working full time was being allowed to work from home. The medication I was on can be very sedating, so getting up in the morning becomes that much harder
- Supportive Manager - It is also very important that the employee feels supported by their employer. Regular meetings with HR and their line manager will be needed to establish if any adjustments are desired and how the employer can help further
- Buddy Scheme - It might be useful to assign the employee a “buddy” in their team for example, who can provide emotional support
- Transparency & clear communication - Lastly, it is vital that both sides are transparent and communicate honestly. From my experience, it is completely possible to recover from psychosis and return to work, as long as the desire is there and that all involved keep an open mind
James Lindsay is the Senior Marketing Officer for Hertfordshire Mind Network. He spoke about his lived experience of psychosis at our March 2023 half-day conference.
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