Advance statements

Anyone can write an advance statement as long as they have the ‘mental capacity’. Mental capacity is the ability to make a decision (and to understand the consequences of that decision).

In the workplace, an employee who is living with bipolar, and their employer, can work together to fill out an advance statement to plan ahead. This means it is clear what needs to happen if someone becomes unwell at work.

An advance statement is personal to each individual, but it can include any aspect of health or social care. For example, people with bipolar might find it helpful to include:

• The behaviours that colleagues may notice if they are becoming unwell, such as talking more or sending emails at 2am (which could be symptoms of hypomania) or withdrawing socially or avoiding meetings (which could be symptoms of depression)
• How they would like their manager to react to, and support them in, different scenarios
• Contact details for family members, friends and/or healthcare professionals who need to be contacted if they become unwell
• What treatment they want
• Practical details, such as who needs to look after their children or pets if they need to go into hospital

Someone with bipolar can write anything they like in an advance statement which would help their colleagues make decisions if they’re worried. 

For example:

If my mood is going high, colleagues may notice that I’m talking more, interrupting a lot and that I have less patience than normal. I might also work early in the morning and late at night, so the timing of emails I send might be a clue that I am becoming unwell.

If my mood is going low, colleagues may notice that I’m looking down more and that I’m quiet in meetings. I might also arrive late to meetings, especially if they’re in the morning, or even avoid them altogether.

If my colleagues notice any of these symptoms, I would like a trusted colleague to:

1. Talk to me and ask me if I think it might be a good idea to take a couple of days off to reset

2. Tell my line manager that I am at risk of an episode

3. Call my next of kin if they’re really worried

An advance statement can give someone with bipolar the peace of mind that their colleagues and employer have a better understanding of how to spot any early symptoms of bipolar and how best to support them.

When there’s a plan in place, line managers, HR teams and colleagues can feel more confident when they’re supporting someone with bipolar who’s struggling. Spotting and managing early bipolar symptoms can help to avoid long-term sick leave.

This understanding will allow for stronger relationships to be built between the employee with bipolar and their managers and will, ultimately, contribute to a higher likelihood of the employee performing well in work.

An advance statement is not a legally binding document, but anyone who’s making decisions about someone’s care must take it into account.

Bipolar UK offers a range of training and support options for employees and organisations, which can include tailored advice around creating advance statements and implementing meaningful reasonable adjustments. 

Find Bipolar UK’s training options here