1. Mental Health in theMental Health in the
Workforce:Workforce:
What an Employer Needs to KnowWhat an Employer Needs to Know
Presenters:Presenters:
Anna Soderman, Peckham Employment SpecialistAnna Soderman, Peckham Employment Specialist
Mike Mahaffey, Peckham Employment SpecialistMike Mahaffey, Peckham Employment Specialist
Laura Curry, CMH Vocational SpecialistLaura Curry, CMH Vocational Specialist
Maria Vandenboom, MRS Vocational Rehabilitation CounselorMaria Vandenboom, MRS Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

2. Mental Illness MythsMental Illness Myths
People with mental illness are violent andPeople with mental illness are violent and
unpredictableunpredictable
People with mental illnesses can’t holdPeople with mental illnesses can’t hold
jobsjobs
Employees with mental illness tend to beEmployees with mental illness tend to be
second rate workerssecond rate workers
There is no hope for people with mentalThere is no hope for people with mental
illnessillness

3. PrevalencePrevalence
• One in four adults in the U.S. experienceOne in four adults in the U.S. experience
a mental health disorder in any givena mental health disorder in any given
yearyear
• One in 17 adults in the U.S. suffer from aOne in 17 adults in the U.S. suffer from a
severe mental illnesssevere mental illness
• The WHO (World Health Organization)The WHO (World Health Organization)
reports that 4 of 10 leading causes ofreports that 4 of 10 leading causes of
disabilities in the U.S. are mental healthdisabilities in the U.S. are mental health
disorders.disorders.

4. Onset and TreatmentOnset and Treatment
The age of onset for most mental illness isThe age of onset for most mental illness is
late teens to early adulthoodlate teens to early adulthood
Seventy to 90% of persons with mentalSeventy to 90% of persons with mental
illness can significantly decrease theirillness can significantly decrease their
symptoms with a combination ofsymptoms with a combination of
medications and therapymedications and therapy

5. Diagnoses and SymptomsDiagnoses and Symptoms
Major DepressionMajor Depression
• Little interest or pleasure in doing thingsLittle interest or pleasure in doing things
• Feeling down, depressed or hopelessFeeling down, depressed or hopeless
• Trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too muchTrouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much
• Feeling tired or having little energyFeeling tired or having little energy
• Poor appetite or overeatingPoor appetite or overeating
• Feeling bad about yourself, failure or that you’ve let yourselfFeeling bad about yourself, failure or that you’ve let yourself
or family downor family down
• Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading theTrouble concentrating on things, such as reading the
newspaper or watching televisionnewspaper or watching television
• Moving or speaking so slowly other people noticeMoving or speaking so slowly other people notice
• Or the opposite-fidgety or restless, moving around moreOr the opposite-fidgety or restless, moving around more
than usualthan usual
• Thoughts about death or hurting yourselfThoughts about death or hurting yourself

6. Diagnoses and SymptomsDiagnoses and Symptoms
Anxiety DisorderAnxiety Disorder
 Excessive anxiety and worryExcessive anxiety and worry
 Restlessness and/or feeling on edgeRestlessness and/or feeling on edge
 Easily fatiguedEasily fatigued
 Difficulty concentrating or mind going blankDifficulty concentrating or mind going blank
 IrritabilityIrritability
 Muscle tensionMuscle tension
 Sleep disturbancesSleep disturbances
 Anxiety which causes significant distress or impairmentAnxiety which causes significant distress or impairment
in social, occupational, or other important areas ofin social, occupational, or other important areas of
functioningfunctioning

7. Diagnoses and SymptomsDiagnoses and Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
 Oscillating between a depressive and manic state. Symptoms of maniaOscillating between a depressive and manic state. Symptoms of mania
include:include:
◦ Either an elated, happy mood or an irritable, angry, unpleasant
mood
◦ Increased physical and mental activity and energy
◦ Racing thoughts and flight of ideas
◦ Increased talking, more rapid speech than normal
◦ Ambitious, often grandiose plans
◦ Risk taking
◦ Impulsive activity such as spending sprees, sexual indiscretion and
alcohol abuse
◦ Decreased sleep without experiencing fatigue

8. Diagnoses and SymptomsDiagnoses and Symptoms
SchizophreniaSchizophrenia
• The symptoms of schizophrenia are generally divided intoThe symptoms of schizophrenia are generally divided into
three categories -- Positive, Negative, and Cognitive:three categories -- Positive, Negative, and Cognitive:
• Positive SymptomsPositive Symptoms, or "psychotic" symptoms include:, or "psychotic" symptoms include:
– Delusions and hallucinations, lost touch of reality
– "Positive" refers to having overt symptoms that should not be
there.
– Delusions to believe people are reading thoughts, plotting
against them, secretly monitoring and threatening them, or
trying to control minds.
– Hallucinations cause people to hear or see things that are not
present

9. Diagnoses and SymptomsDiagnoses and Symptoms
Schizophrenia (cont.)Schizophrenia (cont.)
• Negative SymptomsNegative Symptoms include:include:
– Emotional flatness or lack of expression
– Inability to start and follow through with activities
– Speech that is brief and devoid of content
– Lack of pleasure or interest in life
– "Negative" refers to a lack of certain characteristics a person should
have
• Cognitive SymptomsCognitive Symptoms pertain to thinking processes.pertain to thinking processes.
– Difficulty prioritizing tasks, lack certain memory functions and
organize thoughts.
– A common problem associated with schizophrenia is the lack of
insight into the condition itself. This is not a willful denial but rather
a part of the mental illness.
– The lack of understanding, poses many challenges for loved ones
seeking better care for the person with schizophrenia.

10. What Does This Mean for Employers?What Does This Mean for Employers?
The Hiring ProcessThe Hiring Process
 Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer
may not legally inquire about any disability, including
mental illnesses, that a candidate may or may not
have.
 If a candidate asks for a reasonable accommodation
due to a disability in order to perform their job duties,
the employer must honor that request to the best of
their ability.
 For more information on reasonable
accommodations, visit the Job Accommodation
Network at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/

11. Existing Employees with M.H. IssuesExisting Employees with M.H. Issues
How To Address a Suspected Mental Health IssueHow To Address a Suspected Mental Health Issue
 Assess whether or not behaviors are impacting workAssess whether or not behaviors are impacting work
performanceperformance
 Give employee factual, specific examples of observedGive employee factual, specific examples of observed
behavior – with no judgment or inferencesbehavior – with no judgment or inferences
 Address performance expectations (attendance,Address performance expectations (attendance,
appearance and hygiene, meeting deadlines and timeappearance and hygiene, meeting deadlines and time
management)management)

12. Existing Employees with M.H. IssuesExisting Employees with M.H. Issues
How to Address a Suspected Mental Health IssueHow to Address a Suspected Mental Health Issue
(cont.)(cont.)
• Per the ADA, an employer may only request an employeePer the ADA, an employer may only request an employee
undergo a medical examination or inquiry if it is job-relatedundergo a medical examination or inquiry if it is job-related
and consistent with business necessity. An examination mayand consistent with business necessity. An examination may
be undertaken if there is evidence of a job performance orbe undertaken if there is evidence of a job performance or
safety concern.safety concern.
• Be aware , due to the stigma surrounding mental illness, theBe aware , due to the stigma surrounding mental illness, the
employee may not be comfortable admitting their disability.employee may not be comfortable admitting their disability.
• An employee may not be aware they have a mental illnessAn employee may not be aware they have a mental illness
(as of yet undiagnosed).(as of yet undiagnosed).

13. Referral and Resource InformationReferral and Resource Information
Employer EAP (Employee Assistance Program) –Employer EAP (Employee Assistance Program) –
if availableif available
Private Insurance – can offer referrals to in-Private Insurance – can offer referrals to in-
network mental health providersnetwork mental health providers
Michigan Rehabilitation ServicesMichigan Rehabilitation Services
Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community MentalClinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental
HealthHealth
812 E. Jolly Road
Lansing, MI 48910
(888) 800-1559
Emergency Services: (800) 372-8460

14. Other Resources and ReferencesOther Resources and References
• The Job Accommodation NetworkThe Job Accommodation Network
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/http://www.jan.wvu.edu/
• The National Alliance on Mental IllnessThe National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/http://www.nami.org/
• U.S. Department of Health and HumanU.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Substance Abuse and MentalServices Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration Center forHealth Services Administration Center for
Mental Health ServicesMental Health Services
http://www.allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/http://www.allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/

15. Questions?Questions?