Behavioral Health Articles
Mental Health and Workplace Stigma
by Christina Taranto
When you have a physical illness, you receive flowers and get well cards. However, if you or someone you love is dealing with mental illness, it’s kept as quiet as a library during finals week.
If you can empathize with this, then you can understand the humility that comes from being stigmatized. Whether it is because of your mental health, gender, social standing, or skin color, stigma has at one time or another affected all of us. It is defined as a mark of shame or disgrace that results in discrimination. Stigma is harmful and demeaning to those at whom it is directed, and unfortunately, it is common in today’s workplace, even among well-educated people and in professional settings.
Work is stressful for many Americans, and this stress is increased if accompanied by financial trouble or physical illness. For those with mental health conditions, the workplace can be one of the most discouraging situations they face. Of all individuals with disabilities, those with a mental illness face the highest level of stigmatization in the workplace. One in four Americans has a diagnosable mental illness, but only one-third of those with such conditions actually seek treatment, mainly due to fear of discrimination. Workplace discrimination leads to inadequate mental health insurance coverage, unemployment, and fear or mistrust of those living with mental illness. This discrimination may ultimately result in rejection by employers and coworkers, and even by friends and family as well.
Prejudice can start from the very beginning of the job search. Because of the unfortunate attitude of many employers—that people with mental illness are unreliable, unproductive, and unskilled—there may be hesitation to even submit a resume. A sense of “Why should I bother?” takes over, and it becomes difficult to see any positive possibilities. Finding work in a declining economy is difficult, but it becomes even harder if one has to explain breaks in employment history, bouts of unemployment, or periods of part-time work. In actuality, employers’ fears of lost productivity, high insurance costs, or personnel issues if they hire people with mental health conditions couldn’t be further from the truth.
Those with mental illness must understand their rights and responsibilities when applying for employment and once they are hired. State and federal laws prohibit discrimination against any individual with a mental or physical disability. Employees are under no obligation to disclose their disability to their employer. That said, if situations arise where time off or accommodations are needed, it maybe wise to inform your employer of your circumstance. Employers are required by law to maintain or create reasonable accommodations for the individual, and you have the right to specify that conversations about such adjustments remain confidential unless you state otherwise. Keep in mind, however, that there may be repercussions if accommodations are made. If you are allowed to work flexible hours or take a leave of absence, your coworkers may become curious or even resentful. It is entirely your right to decide whether or not to make your condition known.
In conclusion, how is it possible to eliminate this thing called stigma when its influence on our lives is so great? Whether or not you’ve experienced mental health setbacks yourself, keep in mind that mental illness is just that, an illness. Remember that just because someone identifies with a mental illness, it does not mean they are mentally compromised or deficient. It’s also worth mentioning that many people who deal with mental illness deal with it alone. If a friend, coworker, or family member is experiencing mental health concerns, let them know that help is out there and the best thing to do is to ask for it.
Christina Taranto is a certified Disability and Mental Health Advocate and is involved with several local community service agencies.