1. FATIGUE MANAGEMENTSTRATEGIESfor high fliers and low liarsFrank OConnor 2014Working Well, Mental Health FoundationBSSNZ Fitness for Work Services, Instep Limited

2. We are toldTHE WORKPLACE MUST BE SAFE 3. with risks mitigated or removedLooking for workers at risk notfor risky worko Fear of prosecutiono Ongoing liabilityRisk also lies with work targetsand processeso Functional effectiveness criteriainstead? Drop in work or social interaction 4. Ask the right questionAm I unfit forwork?Am I fit forwork? 5. Our fatigue is affected by:o The kind of work we doo The way work happens at ourplaceo How engaged and supported wefeelo Our own life circumstances andlifestyles 6. We can choose to be in control or not 7. Fatigue unrelieved makes stress Excessive stress unrelieved makes burnout Burnout feeds depressive and anxious overloads 8. Inevitable sequence?Learning fastWorking hardAchieving wellBurning out 9. So how do we know beforeFATIGUE CHANGES THINGS9 10. Fatigue changes thoughtso Memory problemso Inability to concentrateo Poor judgmento Seeing only the negativeo Anxious or racing thoughtso Constant worrying10I think itsfatigue 11. Fatigue changes feelingso Moodinesso Irritability or short tempero Agitation, inability to relaxo Feeling overwhelmedo Loneliness and isolationo General unhappiness or depression11 12. Fatigue changes sensationso Aches and painso Diarrhoea or constipationo Nausea, dizzinesso Chest pain, rapid heartbeato Loss of sex driveo Frequent colds12 13. Fatigue changes behaviouro Eating more or eating lesso Sleeping too much or too littleo Withdrawing from otherso Neglecting responsibilitieso Relaxing only with drink, drugs,smokeso Nervous habits nail biting, pacing13 14. Earlier indicationsUse of self-report on the sensations of fatigueo regular basiso individual overload stateso contributing behaviours such as resting and sleeping eating and drinking activity and playCondition report: how well I amand am likely to be? 15. How Tired Are You?Never Sometimes Quite often FrequentlyDo you fall asleep in front of the TV? 1 2 3 4Are you irritable, at home or at work? 1 2 3 4Do you fall asleep when you are a passenger in a1 2 3 4car on long journeys?Do you sleep more on your days away from work? 1 2 3 4Does your partner (or other family members orfriends) complain that you are not interested indoing things on your days off?1 2 3 4Do you wake up feeling tired? 1 2 3 4Do you feel tired and have difficulty concentrating1 2 3 4during the day?Do you have to make an effort to do the things youused to enjoy?1 2 3 4Not for reproductionUsed with permissionfrom BSSNZ 16. Asking the right question?Am I unfit forwork?Am I fit forwork? 17. A special interestHIGH FLIERS 18. Destination burnout?Somethings not right physical exhaustion is feedingmental fatigue and on and on itgoes18 19. Stress burnout?o Stress, by and large, involves toomuch demand physically andpsychologicallyo It feels pressured and full and likeit matters a loto Stressed people often stillimagine, that if they can just geteverything under control, theyllfeel better Stress drowned me in responsibilitieso Burnout means not enoughphysically and psychologicallyto do whats neededo Burnout feels empty andwithout motivation, andbeyond caringo Burned out people often cantsee any hope of improvementin their situations Burnout dried me right out19 20. Deep burnout is not for wimpsAdvanced burnout needs:o Tenacity and dedicationo A sense of responsibilityo Commitment to goalsOthers would have given upsooner Sources of persistenceo Driven by fear of failure or ofbeing wrongo Chasing (and being chased by)ego-goalso Rigid standards, and thinkingthere's only one right way20 21. Attention, all personnel!Early intervention for allo Benefits more than the individuals most at risko Assists persisting support for those most affectedo Reduces risk of others becoming infectedUses the strengths of the workgroupso To support members experiencing distresso To strengthen compliance with standards 22. A special interestLOW LIARS 23. Individual fatigue and wellbeing range up anddownHyperUpBlahZonked 24. Bad times happen, people respondHyperUpBlahZonked 25. How we label fatigued peopleDisaffectionDistressDysfunctionDisorderWeirdAnxiousWorriedUnhappyGloomyWithdrawnDepressedUneasy 26. What I say about my fatigueDisaffectionDistressDysfunctionDisorderThis pressure istoo muchI cant survive thisThis feelsawfulI cant do thisNo-one caresIts not fair 27. Asking the right question?Am I unfit forwork?Am I fit forwork? 28. Good reason for undeclared riskStigma of mental illnesso Many wont self-discloseo Some cant self-identifyPeople say they are doing fine,even when they know they arenot It is embarrassing to admit to being amental health failure The help they gave me didnt 29. I choose how I recover, by how I HyperUpBlahZonkedPlay and BeActiveRelate andBelongLearn andAcceptEat and DrinkRest and Sleep Think and Feel 30. A matter of processWELLBEING IN TEAMS 31. A team is more than its membersAs members struggle, so does the workgroupo Group productivity falls faster as fatigue rises poor load sharing weaker joint decisions less tolerance for differencesTeam and personal overload indicators differo Group output indicators lago Group process indicators predict 32. Team wellbeing processesHyperUpBlahZonkedLeading andFollowingResolvingDifferencesCommunicatingAligningand Linking 33. IN CONCLUSION 34. Mentally well people areo Healthier and live longero Better in school and worko Happier in relationshipso Less prone to stresso More adaptable to changeHow do we get more?34 35. More wellbeing and less fatigue at workBlockers Feeling chronic stress Aggression & intolerance Disengaged & distant Unclear or no purpose Burnout or fatigue Mental illness symptoms Poor physical health35Helpers Positive emotions often Interest and involvement Friendly relationships Meaning and purpose Accomplishment Health awareness Good physical health 36. Good mental health is good for businessCosts if poor 2 x sick leave 2 x conflict 3 x cardiovascular 3 x back pain 2 - 3 x injuriesLife is more miserable!36Benefits if good 31% higher productivity 37% more sales 3 x more creativity Better customer satisfaction Reputation as a good place toworkSources: Harvard Business Review 2012; Robertson and Cooper 2011; CanadianMental Health Commission 2013