In this episode of the c-suite Podcast charity spotlight series, we feature Bipolar UK to highlight bipolar disorder and address common misconceptions about mental health in the workplace. Host Debbie West speaks with Simon Kitchen, CEO of Bipolar UK; Emma Gibbons, Vulnerability Lead at PayPlan; and Katherine O’Mahony, a healthcare project manager with lived experience of bipolar disorder.
The conversation begins with Simon Kitchen providing an overview of bipolar disorder, a severe mental illness marked by extreme emotional highs and lows. Despite its severity, many people with bipolar disorder can lead stable, productive lives with the right diagnosis, medication, and support. Simon emphasizes the need to dispel myths and stigma, revealing that over a million people in the UK live with bipolar, with less than half having a formal diagnosis. It takes an average of 9.5 years to receive a diagnosis, which can be devastating for those affected. He highlights that with effective self-management, peer support, and medical care, individuals with bipolar can achieve a balanced mood state and thrive professionally, contributing unique strengths to their workplaces.
Simon also discusses Bipolar UK’s mission to empower those living with bipolar to live well and reach their full potential in all areas of life. The charity provides various peer support services, including over 80 support groups, an e-community with more than 15,000 members, and one-to-one calls. They are also involved in advocacy and research efforts to improve diagnosis rates and access to specialized support. Their research initiatives explore innovative treatment options, such as cognitive remediation therapy and genetic studies, to enhance understanding and support for those affected.
Emma Gibbons from PayPlan describes the partnership between PayPlan and Bipolar UK, which began in 2021 due to an increasing number of clients disclosing mental health issues. The collaboration aims to provide comprehensive support to individuals with bipolar, particularly those facing financial challenges due to their condition. Emma explains how the partnership has developed a reciprocal support model, including tailored training, referral pathways, and specialized financial advice. This approach benefits not only PayPlan’s clients but also extends to their internal wellbeing strategy, creating a more supportive environment for their own teams.
Katherine O’Mahony offers a personal perspective, sharing her journey since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year. After a manic episode resulted in hospitalization, she faced the challenges of adjusting to life with the diagnosis, including managing medication and understanding her moods. Katherine found online resources, such as the Bipolar UK website and Mind, invaluable for understanding her rights under employment laws and learning more about the different types of bipolar disorder. She shares that being diagnosed with bipolar type one helped her realize that the condition exists on a spectrum, with varying lengths and severities of episodes. Katherine emphasizes the importance of a supportive employer who allowed her the time needed to return to work without pressure and reflects on her determination to manage her condition proactively and excel in her career.
Building on Katherine’s insights, Simon Kitchen discusses how employers can create a positive environment for employees with bipolar. He emphasizes the importance of providing a safe space for individuals to discuss their condition and the support they need. One approach Bipolar UK recommends is using an “advanced statement,” where employees document their preferences for support if they become unwell. Simple adjustments, such as allowing flexible start times or “guilt-free” sick days, can help manage episodes more effectively and prevent them from escalating. Simon also advises that employers educate themselves about the condition and foster an open dialogue to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that mental health issues are addressed early.
For employers and employees looking to learn more, Simon highlights resources available on the Bipolar UK website, including a report on bipolar in the workplace, reasonable adjustments employers can make, and an e-learning package. The website also provides a mood disorder questionnaire to help identify symptoms. Additionally, Simon mentions the UK government’s Access to Work scheme, which offers support to people with long-term conditions and disabilities in the workplace, including funding for workplace adjustments, awareness training, and mentoring.
Over the past two years, Emma and her team at PayPlan have dedicated significant efforts to developing their internal wellbeing strategy. Recognizing that their advisors could be impacted by vicarious trauma from challenging calls, and that they might also be living with their mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, they understood the importance of applying the same reasonable adjustments they make for their clients to their own staff. A key part of their approach has been their partnership with Bipolar UK, which has helped them implement several initiatives to support their employees.
One such initiative is bespoke training for managers, including specific modules on how to support colleagues in different situations, including those living with bipolar disorder. This training helps managers identify early indicators of mental health conditions and provides guidance on how to approach and support a team member appropriately. In some cases, this awareness can be the trigger for initiating important conversations that lead to further support. PayPlan has also introduced a trauma and agent wellbeing status on their telephony system, which allows staff experiencing difficult or triggering conversations to indicate their need for immediate support. The reporting and data generated from this system help identify patterns that may suggest a need for further intervention.
A practical example of the system’s effectiveness involved a colleague who consistently used the wellbeing status on Thursday mornings. The data led to a conversation where the colleague disclosed her recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the challenges she was facing. PayPlan was able to make adjustments to her shift pattern, aligning it with her counselling schedule and reducing further stress. Additionally, the company has introduced wellbeing champions across various areas of the business. These champions, who are trained as mental health first aiders, provide additional support to colleagues. In 2022, they also opened a wellbeing room to offer a safe space for staff to decompress after particularly difficult calls. They further support these initiatives with an annual wellbeing event during Safeguarding Week, where Bipolar UK participates and offers information and support to staff.
Katherine shared her experience of managing bipolar disorder in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of creating a wellness plan with her employer. This plan identifies symptoms that indicate she is becoming unwell, such as social withdrawal, and outlines the strategies that help keep her well, like maintaining social contact, a stable routine, and prioritizing sleep. She stressed the critical role of sleep in managing bipolar disorder, explaining that poor sleep can prevent recovery from daily stress and lead to worsening symptoms. Katherine also highlighted the need for a balanced lifestyle, including regular meals, stress management, and appropriate physical activity, tailored to the individual’s needs.
She believes that a combination of a good lifestyle, medication, and transparency with employers is crucial for effectively managing bipolar disorder in the workplace.
Simon emphasized that lifestyle management is crucial for people living with bipolar disorder, noting that those affected often identify it as the most important factor in maintaining their wellbeing. He reiterated Katherine’s point that sleep management is paramount, likening its importance to that of quitting smoking for someone at risk of lung cancer. He explained that lifestyle factors, such as moderating alcohol and caffeine intake, avoiding night shifts, and maintaining a consistent routine, can significantly impact the ability to stay well. He also mentioned that understanding triggers, such as starting a new job or changes in sleep patterns due to long-haul flights, can help people with bipolar disorder plan their lives more effectively.
Simon also pointed out that these lifestyle recommendations are beneficial not only for those with bipolar disorder but for anyone looking to maintain a healthy and balanced life. He highlighted that even if someone is not yet diagnosed but suspects they might have bipolar disorder, following these self-management strategies could help improve their overall quality of life.
Simon and Katherine both emphasized the positive traits that individuals with bipolar disorder can bring to the workplace. Simon highlighted that many people with bipolar disorder are compassionate, having experienced significant personal challenges themselves, and are often more understanding of others. He also noted the well-documented link between bipolar disorder and creativity, citing examples of famous artists and musicians who have the condition. Additionally, he explained that the symptom of hypomania, characterized by high energy levels, focus, and productivity, can make people with bipolar disorder high achievers in their fields. However, he cautioned that this state can be challenging to manage and, if not controlled, can lead to more severe episodes.
Katherine emphasized that it is essential for both the individual and their employer to understand and manage these fluctuations to harness their potential effectively.
Looking forward, Simon outlined several priorities for improving the management of bipolar disorder, particularly in the context of the workplace. He stressed the importance of early diagnosis and understanding of the condition, as well as providing access to specialist support. He argued that catching the disorder early, ideally in the late teens or early twenties, could lead to better outcomes by allowing individuals to plan their lives around managing the condition. However, he acknowledged that the current healthcare system, particularly in the UK, is not set up for early intervention and instead follows a crisis model that often fails to provide timely support.
Simon also highlighted the need for better access to psychiatric care and more personalized medication management. He pointed out that many of the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder are actually side effects of medication, and that regular reviews and adjustments by a psychiatrist could significantly improve the quality of life for those affected. He noted that this proactive approach could prevent severe episodes that lead to hospitalization and significant disruption to work and life, ultimately benefiting both individuals and employers.
For more information, visit Bipolar UK (https://www.bipolaruk.org) to explore their support services, advocacy efforts, and research initiatives.
Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights into supporting mental health in the workplace and fostering a more inclusive environment for all.
