Mental Illness at Work

Working (or attending school) with a mental illness can be a challenge for some people. Untreated psychiatric symptoms can interfere with concentration, attendance, communication and memory. What many people are unaware of, however, is that the treatment for many mental disorders can often cause the same degree of difficulty in the workplace as an untreated mental illness can. Medications prescribed for mental disorders often cause cognitive dulling and problems with short term memory. They often make it difficult for many people to wake in the morning and frequent appointments with psychiatrists and therapists can result in many days missed from work.

Your employer is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide reasonable accommodations for limitations caused directly by your disability. These accommodations may include a more flexible schedule so that you can attend appointments as needed, more privacy in your workspace to minimize distractions, or breaks at different times during the day when you need to take your medication. Keep in mind - employers are not required to lower the standard of performance expected or to keep you employed if you are unable to perform the basic duties your job requires you to perform.

The U.S. Department of Labor states that the workplace is the single greatest source of stress for everyone, regardless of what you do or how much money you earn. Individuals with a mental illness should be extra concerned about stress experienced at work, and need to take even more precautions to keep it to a minimum. It would be unfortunate to lose the stability you have fought for because you get caught up in your job and become overwhelmed or fatigued. Take advantage of the laws that exist to help you.

Things to Remember:

1) Be reasonable about the limitations caused by your mental illness or disability. Do not push yourself too hard because you are having a good day or week or month. You can accomplish more if you are mentally and physically healthy than if you push yourself too hard and end up needing time off from work to recover.

2) If you are having a problem at work, ask for help with it. If you feel you or your work would benefit from a schedule change or different approach, ask for it. You have the right to reasonable accommodations. Use it.

3) Learn and use stress management techniques. Take time off to relax when you need it.

4) Pay careful attention to how stress at work is disrupting your sleep. Those with mental disorders are often more severely affected by insomnia than those without such a disability.

5) If you feel you are being discriminated against - speak out! Educate yourself on your rights as a person with a disability, and do not be afraid to educate others.

6) Know when to quit. If the stress of your job truly is too much to handle or is making your illness worse, consider changing jobs or taking a break from work completely. Speak with your doctor about what benefits you might be entitled to based on your disability.