My mom died this past Sunday unexpectedly. I am having an extremely hard time dealing with it and I am having thoughts of hurting myself. I took the week off work, I am a mental health case manager. I am afraid my boss will fire me if she found out I had to be hospitalized for being suicidal. I just lost my mom, I can't lose my job, but I really really need some help!
2007-08-02 16:37:41 · 8 answers · asked by Mary 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Grief counseling. Take more than a week off. I would find it hard to believe anyone would fire your for the loss of your mother.
Sorry for your loss
2007-08-02 16:48:45 · answer #1 · answered by K.O. 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First, let me begin with my deepest condolences over the loss of your mother.
Surely, Rachel, your "boss" would understand that your inconsolable grief could lead to acting out behaviors that could require hospitalization. Would she fire you for having appendicitis? How would she find out? Haven't you heard of HIPPA and patient confidentiality?
What would you tell a client in a similar predicament?
Are sure you're in the right field? If you're a mental health case manager, advocating for your clients and assisting them in maintaining their stability, I would hope you would have some insight into what an employer can and cannot do.
If she did fire you, I'd release a lawyer on the mental health clinic's human resource department, at the very minimum.
Hang in there, girl.
2007-08-02 16:54:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to protect yourself by having your employer signing a " Family leave of Absent" report. It doesn't meean you are going to take a leave of absent, it just means you are protected if your employer tries to fire you for something they may create on their own. Talk to the hospital you went to for more information. You are human and you can be the chairman of a phsychiatric hospital, it doesn't matter. You need to take care of you, your health and job. Don't make that mistake and asume things will just get better. I know this all to well. I had 3 breakdowns in a single year. They were unexpected and I was protected from getting fired because of this act. I took time off and ended up in the hospital many times. I didnt plan for this to happen. It just did. But I learned very quickly that blocking out trajedies is not good. If your brain doesnt want to deal with it, your body will. Early signs for my breakdowns were forgetfulness, then anxiety, then panic attacks, finally for me, seizures. The emotional trama was too much for my brain and I would black out. Don't let it get that far. 7 children died in my family, believe me, I can understand that kind of pain. Good luck
2007-08-02 16:59:48 · answer #3 · answered by Victoria 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are planning on voluntarily commiting yourself to the hospital I would recommend doing it in a neighboring county.. I think it would be weird if you were locked up in a mental hospital and all of your nurses were also your coworkers. Try and find a hospital where you don't know anyone.
2007-08-02 18:57:19 · answer #4 · answered by ........ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can your boss have access to your mental health records? Aren't they private? If you did get fired, I would hire a lawyer immediately. This couldn't be legal grounds for dismissal. I'm sorry to hear about your mom and hope you are feeling better.
2007-08-02 16:46:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
how do you know that you need hospitalization?You are not a doctor?
And you can try to make alternative therapeutic measures...psychotherapy or something...or probably if your mom was living with you in the same household,perhaps any of your cousins or friends could fulfill the emptyness! Just ask!
Good luck!
2007-08-02 16:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by Srbo Sutaric 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take a deep breath. unless you are a danger to patient's or are not doing your job properly, thay can not let you go. i'm more concerned with your frame of mind.
contact a good doc ouside of your place of employment. even your g.p. can help you. it's very common, after the death of your mom, to feel as if you're going insane and even to want to go with her. the key is, not to act on it. i've been there. exactly where you are.when i lost my mom, i didn't care about anything. not even my kids.i wanted to die to be with her. i truly thought i was going to be commited.
take a leave of adsence for a couple weeks and take care of yourself. they can't fire you for that either. get the help you need. talk to friends and family about your feelings. believe it or not, it really will help. i am truly sorry for your loss.
god bless. d.
2007-08-02 16:46:39 · answer #7 · answered by racer 51 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you live in the U.S. you are protected federally do to your disability. Nami.org(national alliance for the mentally ill) has great reference tools and they are national so if you have any questions you can have a local contact. I am so sorry to hear about your mom,that had to be a devastating loss for you. Please keep me posted and take care
2007-08-02 16:49:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋