This document discusses the impact of mental illness on employment and strategies to support employees with mental illness. It notes that mental illness causes more lost workdays than other health conditions. While many individuals with mental illness face deficits in work skills, accommodations like flexible scheduling, telecommuting, and job modifications can help them participate in meaningful employment. The document advocates for reducing stigma, educating employees, and promoting mental healthcare to support those affected by mental illness in the workplace.

1. Presented at 2016 Academy Of Management Symposium
August 7, Anaheim, California
Aruna Rao
Associate Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness of NewJersey (NAMI NJ)
arao@naminj.org

8. Mental illness causes more lost workdays and
impairment than each of the following:
 Arthritis
 Asthma
 Back pain
 Diabetes
 Hypertension
 Heart disease
Source: www.rightdirectionforme.com.

9. Employment is a major determinant of mental
health. It provides:
 Income
 Affords people a sense of identity and purpose
 Social contacts
 Opportunities for personal growth
In the case of people with serious mental disorder:
 It can provide a stepping-stone to recovery
 The ability to participate in employment
enriches their quality of life and decreases
disability

10. Between 80% and 90% of individuals with
serious mental disorder are
 Unemployed
 Dependent on government pensions
 Or on time limited allowances

11. We are all in this together.
 1 in 5 individuals are affected.
 Add to this the number of caregivers who
experience a high level of stress, the impact
on their health and ability to work
 Add the indirect costs of untreated mental
illness to employers– estimated to be as high
as $100 billion a year in the U.S. alone

12. There is an unprecedented number of young
people diagnosed with mental illness coming of
age now.

14.  This new generation is far more accustomed
to disclosing their diagnosis and requesting
accommodations.
 How will we meet their need for meaningful
employment?
 How can we serve the millions already in the
workforce?

15. Many (not all) with mental illnesses face deficits
in key work traits often required for any job.
They include:
 Interpersonal skills such as conversing with
others and recognizing social cues
 Concentration
 The ability to learn job skills
 Working independently
 Maintaining work stamina
 Managing symptoms and stress levels

16.  Flexible scheduling
 Telecommuting
 Working from home
 Job modification
 Facilitating communication on the job
 Modifying employee training
 Training to staff or supervisors
 Modifying supervision
 Making policy changes
 Modifying physical environment or providing special equipment,
 Changing work procedures.
 Sick leave for mental illness and even unpaid leave for mental
health treatment.
 Modifications could entail mitigating or removing distractions in
the workplace, private spaces, noise reduction, increased natural
lighting, and music to block out other distractions.

18. Public stigma is
the reaction
that the general
population has
to people with
mental illness.

19. Self-stigma
is the
prejudice
which
people with
mental
illness turn
against
themselves

20. Stigma
dehumanizes
people with
mental illness,
trivializes their
legitimate
concerns, and
is a significant
barrier to
effective
delivery of
mental health
services.

21.  Stigma from either others or self is the main
reason for the underutilization of healthcare
services and workplace accommodations.
 Generally, this results in employees waiting
for their symptoms to severely limit their
daily functioning as impetus to seek help as
opposed to preemptively treating.
 This in turn becomes total work loss such as
absenteeism and turnover.

22.  Employers are in a powerful position to help
reduce the stigma that often accompanies
mental illness.
 Early detection and treatment of mental illness
often can prevent a crisis and reduce employers’
health care costs down the road.
 Developing programs and plans to provide more
support for their employees with psychiatric
disorders is essential—similar to the help they
provide those with physical injuries or ailments.

23. What Not to say: Try Instead:
"How's your
health?"
"How can we help
you do your job?"
“You seem
depressed.”
“You’re not your
usual self.”
"Snap out of it." "Do you want to
talk about it?"
"Think positive." "It's always OK to
ask for help."
"I know exactly
what you're going
through."
“It’s hard for me to
understand exactly
what you’re going
through, but I can
see that it’s
distressing for
you.”

24. To support employees with mental illnesses, the National Council for
Behavioral Health recommend the following actions:
 Educate employees about the signs and symptoms of mental
health disorders.
 Encourage employees to talk about stress, workload, family
commitments and other issues.
 Communicate that mental illnesses are real, common and
treatable.
 Discourage stigmatizing language, including hurtful labels such as
“crazy,” “loony” or “nuts.”
 Invest in mental health benefits.
 Help employees transition back to work after they take leave.
 Consult with your employee assistance program.

25.  DuPont’s ICU campaign (which stands for
Identifying,Connecting and Understanding,
as well as “I SeeYou”) includes a five-minute
video that teaches employees how to ask
appropriate questions when someone
appears to be struggling.
 Enrolling HR personnel and management in
Mental Health First Aid courses

26. NAMI has launched the #stigmafree campaign,
sponsored by philosophy, the well-being
beauty brand—the first major corporation
outside the health care industry to join NAMI to
commit to raising awareness about mental
health and eliminating the stigma that
surrounds mental illness.

27. The #stigmafree Company initiative is a
partnership opportunity with NAMI. NAMI's first
Stigmafree Company partners have taken a stand
to help end stigma and misconceptions about
mental illness while promoting action and support
for everyone affected by mental health conditions.

29. Reach out to a local or state NAMI for education and
support. Find us at www.nami.org.
 A NAMI In Our OwnVoice presentation can change
attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes by describing the
reality of living with mental illness. People with mental
health conditions share their powerful personal stories in
this free, 90-minute presentation.
 NAMI leadership can provide ongoing training for
employers and support for employees, both individuals
affected by mental illness and for caregivers.