Kathryn

Feb 23, 2025

Zero mental health awareness

UPDATE AFTER MEDIGOLD RESPONSE I have now been diagnosed by a clinical psychiatrist with: • Recurrent depressive disorder (ICD-11: 6A71). Since adolescence. • Currently experiencing a severe depressive episode (ICD-11: 6A71.3) • Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) (ICD-11: 6B41). Since childhood. • Emotionally unstable personality disorder (ICD-11: 6D10). I remain distressed by the original medical retirement report & feel strongly more compassion/awareness should have been exercised. It drove me to become suicidal after all. HOWEVER, I now realise my mental illness is in part responsible for my strong reaction. I also appreciate that the original IRMP could only base his assessment on formal diagnoses. At least now, I have that. Although I've had to pay £3K for the privilege. The damage from that initial report has been done to me, but I now know exactly what I'm dealing with in terms of my mental disabilities and have recommended treatment. Hopefully, now you have the correct evidence, I will get a more appropriate response to my appeal. All I ask is that your IRMPs please be mindful of the devastating impact words can have on a fragile mind. I would recommend you ALWAYS see someone with mental ill health in person before writing any type of report. While the OH Consultant may not have been able to diagnose me, he would have witnessed firsthand my mood & behaviour difficulties. I think his report would have been more informed as a result. Thank you for your response. I look forward to hearing from the Pensions Team. It is 9 months since I submitted my application. ORIGINAL REVIEW It took three months before any action was taken on my July 2024 application for early (deferred member) West Midlands Pension Fund (LGPS) retirement on mental ill health. And only after my former employer complained. Unfortunately, the Consultant in OH who prepared my medical retirement report showed a complete lack of understanding of mental ill health. He didn't even ask for a face-to-face meeting (which I offered) and ignored critical information I had supplied, including medical records. For someone already mentally fragile and suicidal, it was devastating to have my genuine lack of capability and functionality so obviously dismissed. Anyone who meets me can tell I have major issues and I have always been totally honest about my predicament, sharing deeply personal information. I’ve suffered depression and anxiety for over 30 years and been in crisis, under the community mental health team, since last summer. I undertook trauma stabilisation therapy last year and am due to start 7-week group therapy for emotional dysregulation. I see a Mind counsellor weekly and my Psychiatric Nurse monthly (or sooner if I am spiralling). No mention of my repeated, deep-rooted trauma AT ALL in my first report. I have regular panic attacks, struggle to sleep most nights and/or have nightmares/flashbacks, so wake up drained to begin with. Getting up and dressed at all is a challenge. I don't like mixing with people, have lost confidence in my abilities (including driving, which has resulted in stress diarrhea). I had made major mistakes and demonstrated poor judgment in the run up to closing my freelance business (all documented in my claim). I have not worked since July 2024 and done ad hoc copywriting only in the 5 years preceding. Despite this, the Consultant stated that in his opinion I was not permanently unfit to go back to my 2014 high pressure, high responsibility role as Director of Marketing for a major university, a senior manager in charge of 80+ staff and multimillion pound budgets. Really? Yesterday I had to beg my son to make sure he guide me over to his friends' mums at an 18th birthday party. I was terrified I'd walk into the room and get so panicked/confused, I wouldn't spot anyone I know. I managed 2.5 hours 'in company' before he had to take me home. I am currently appealing and getting a private specialist psychiatric assessment to support my application. The 1 star is for the pensions administration team - not the OH Consultant. Once my case was active, the administration team has been helpful, professional and responsive in its dealings with me. The Pensions Director has also given me clear guidance on the psychiatric information needed for my appeal. I will also be having a face-to-face meeting this time. Reading these reviews, I don't hold out much hope of a positive outcome for me. Maybe for my former employer. It certainly seems that Medigold is all about minimising the cost to employers, rather than what is genuinely in the best interests of the individuals concerned. Let's hope they prove me wrong. Watch this space...