ESA ...help and advice please.

Hi,

My sister has been off work for over a year with severe depression and anxiety. A work related incident sparked it off and for this reason they won't sack her, although sick pay and SSP finished many months ago and I am worried that if I write her a resignation letter it may cause more trouble in the future regarding any benefits. She is desperately ill with "depression", she almost just lives in her head, and lives alone.

I don't live nearby but have to make sure she is eating or she doesn't bother.I have to force her to go to her GP and I go in too as she just sits there and he is happy to let this continue. She is on maximum dose antidepressants and there has been no improvement. She can't cook, clean, shop, manage her money or keep herself tidy. Her home is disgusting if I don't go in every day.

She went to her ESA medical, and told the ATOS doctor there was nothing wrong with her. I waited outside. Of course she scored zero points. I have appealed and am in the process of seeing the GP again in order to get more support from him as he is a waste of space. She is so obviously mentally ill and has had some kind of breakdown, this is more than depression now. She doesn't realise this appeal is her only hope of having some form of income. How on earth can I get her to sign on or go to work interviews?

I am worn out and have unwittingly taken the role of carer even though I have my own young family and work myself. My sister is so mentally incapacitated, and yet the ATOS doctor was happy to say she was fine because she said so. It's unbelievable and I am very scared for the future as well as being upset about what will happen to her if we lose the appeal. I have written them a 4 page statement and they haven't even bothered to read it and say they uphold the original report. I don't know what to do and how do I cajole someone who is in a world of their own to act and behave a certain way!

It is affecting my health as I am tired and worn out with it all. I wish her employers would sack her because I can't fight them too, there isn't a safety net for people like my sister. I think she should be referred to a psychiatrist, I don't want to see her sectioned or anything though. I should change her doctor, but am concerned about doing this at the moment while in the middle of this crisis. I can't leave her to social services either as some friends have advised. I feel like I am letting her down but don't know what to do.

Would appreciate any ideas to move forward and prepare better for the appeal. I will go to the appeal for her and do all the talking there as long as she doesn't sit there again saying she is fine and to leave her alone.

Hi, this is terrible for you and I can empathise with both you and your sister.

I have a chronic depressive illness and have been where your sister is at the moment.

I also have friends who have various mental illnesses.

I have to be honest,if your sister won't ask for help for herself you are a bit stuck.

If I were you I would contact an organisation like Mind for advice.

I wish you and your sister the best of luck,
Rachel

Difficult. If you wanted her sectioned, you would have more rights as nearest relative, but if you don't, your options are limited.

One possibility is to go to social services and to ask for an assessment of your needs as carer. They have to provide that assessment. In the course of that, they may decide to do something about your sister.

Would it be possible for you to take pictures of your sister's home to show her GP how much she is struggling?

Who is paying for her food? Does she have savings? Is she living off DLA? If you're paying, maybe you could tell her you won't keep paying if she doesn't co-operate with the appeal and with getting psychiatric help. The trouble with that, though, is that you don't sound like the sort of person who'd go through with that and she probably knows it.

Another possibility is to wait until she's having a really, really bad day and take her to A&E, where she'd stand a chance of being seen by either a crisis team (probably consisting of two mental nurses) or the liaison psychiatrist.

Turning again to money, does she belong, or has she belonged, to any trade or profession that has a benevolent association/fund? It might tide her over until you can get the appeal sorted.

Do you know anything about the sectioning process? It's not the end of the world. About the only thing I can think of that having been sectioned stops you doing is going to a couple of countries such as America that she may not want to visit anyway. It's not all One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest these days. Being sectioned isn't nice, but it's something you get over. (I've been sectioned. I've lived to tell the tale. )

See also -

www.mind.org.uk/help

www.depressionalliance.org/

Sophie30 wrote:

Hi,

My sister has been off work for over a year with severe depression and anxiety. A work related incident sparked it off and for this reason they won't sack her, although sick pay and SSP finished many months ago and I am worried that if I write her a resignation letter it may cause more trouble in the future regarding any benefits. She is desperately ill with "depression", she almost just lives in her head, and lives alone.

I don't live nearby but have to make sure she is eating or she doesn't bother.I have to force her to go to her GP and I go in too as she just sits there and he is happy to let this continue. She is on maximum dose antidepressants and there has been no improvement. She can't cook, clean, shop, manage her money or keep herself tidy. Her home is disgusting if I don't go in every day.

She went to her ESA medical, and told the ATOS doctor there was nothing wrong with her. I waited outside. Of course she scored zero points. I have appealed and am in the process of seeing the GP again in order to get more support from him as he is a waste of space. She is so obviously mentally ill and has had some kind of breakdown, this is more than depression now. She doesn't realise this appeal is her only hope of having some form of income. How on earth can I get her to sign on or go to work interviews?

I am worn out and have unwittingly taken the role of carer even though I have my own young family and work myself. My sister is so mentally incapacitated, and yet the ATOS doctor was happy to say she was fine because she said so. It's unbelievable and I am very scared for the future as well as being upset about what will happen to her if we lose the appeal. I have written them a 4 page statement and they haven't even bothered to read it and say they uphold the original report. I don't know what to do and how do I cajole someone who is in a world of their own to act and behave a certain way!

It is affecting my health as I am tired and worn out with it all. I wish her employers would sack her because I can't fight them too, there isn't a safety net for people like my sister. I think she should be referred to a psychiatrist, I don't want to see her sectioned or anything though. I should change her doctor, but am concerned about doing this at the moment while in the middle of this crisis. I can't leave her to social services either as some friends have advised. I feel like I am letting her down but don't know what to do.

Would appreciate any ideas to move forward and prepare better for the appeal. I will go to the appeal for her and do all the talking there as long as she doesn't sit there again saying she is fine and to leave her alone.

From what you have said and from experience, it would appear that your sister is showing all the symptoms of suffering from severe depression.

This ordinarily requires treatment from a psychiatrist and her GP should be urged to make a referral as a matter of urgency, as hospital admission would need to be considered for her own safety. It is clear that she has no insight into her illness and appears to be suffering from depersonalisation and/or derealisation, and in the process has effectively lost touch with reality, as has been demonstrated in telling the Atos disability analyst that there is nothing wrong with her.

If your sister requires hospitalisation and subsequent treatment, unless she refuses either option, only then will a section be required. If her GP refuses to refer her to a psychiatrist, as was indicated by Survivor in the last post, an organisation such as Mind should be approached as most have advocacy services who can act on your sister's behalf, which includes liaison with medical professionals such as her GP.

Insofar as your sister's appeal arises, again advice could be sought from Mind as to how best to proceed in the circumstances, given your sister's current psychiatric condition.

My two bits again... but I have found going to A&E when I knew very well (history since 1993 and both hips completely replaced) that I at the least require an xray if not an MRI to be done on an urgent basis - and after showing up at A&E that's exactly what they did and also referred me to spine specialist. I know that she currently is suffering (and you as well) from deep and serious depression and my conditions more physical but going to the A&E brought me QUICKLY to the attention of the right people. SKIP THE UNHELPFUL GP. Good luck to you; she is so lucky to have you.
cmarie