Ask the ExpertWelcome to ReachOut.com’s Ask the Expert service
Through this service the ReachOut.com team will be working with a group of professionals and experts with detailed and specialist knowledge of youth mental health issues such as anxiety and depression to answer your questions and address your concerns. The issues covered will be the same as those covered throughout ReachOut.com but through this service we will be able to provide valuable insight into more specific and personal concerns that you may have.
This month
Each month we will concentrate on one particular mental health area and work, mainly, with one specific collaborator. Michael Culloty, is from Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), features as our expert for the month of May taking your questions if you have any financial concerns or budgeting issues.
Questions and answers
We won’t have all the answers to every question – but we do have access to the best available information, so let us know what’s on your mind by submitting a question here.
Your question and answer from Michael will be published here at the beginning of each week in May, so you may wait up to a week for an answer.
The advice provided through this service is not intended to replace face-to-face professional advice or any on-going support that a person may be receiving. If you or someone you know is in crisis now you should go to emergency support information.
hi im wondering if u can help, im out of work since sep 11 on illness benefit, the reason for being out is down to what i feel was bullying & harresment, its been going on for 2 yrs, the people doing it are supervisors & management & they made my life hell while in work, ive went to HR with written complaints & sat with them many times crying my eyes out each time being told something would be done but it never was eventually i had to take time out as my mental health was in a very bad state, still is nearly 6 months later, i went back for a meeting & asked could i take redundancy as i just couldnt work there anymore but was turned down by the bully herself, im at home swimming in debt, severly depressed, i now suffer from panic attacks & never want to leave my house, i really cant face my job anymore & its sad as i spent 11 yrs there & once loved it. i cant believe all this has happened but i also cant believe ANY workplace can be allowed to do this to someone, please i really need some advice on any options i have, my whole life has been turned upside down because of this…
Regards
Jade
Hi Jade,
We are really sorry to hear about everything you have been through. No one deserves or asks to be bullied, no matter what and everyone has the right to work in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence.
You have done the right thing by bringing up this issue with your HR department. If you feel that they haven’t responded appropriately to stop the bullying then you may need to take it to the next level.
The Health and Safety Authority or the Equality Tribunal are organisations that can give you advice on your options and your rights. You can also ask them to act on your behalf if you don’t feel comfortable doing it. They should respect your confidentiality, though if you are concerned about this, ask them what their responsibilities are.
Another organisation that may be able to help you would be your union or you could contact an employment lawyer.
As you have mentioned bullying can really negatively impact on our mental health. It’s really important that you take extra steps to take care of your mental health during this time. If you are having panic attacks to the extent where you don’t want to leave the house then you really need to speak to someone. Speaking to someone outside the situation like a GP or counsellor can be really helpful. A professional can help you keep things in perspective and come up with strategies to keep you healthy and deal with your panic attacks.
All the best
Roisin