Final thoughts…

Raising awareness about mental illness is the first step in diminishing the discrimination that often comes with it.  Thank you so much for following our blog and joining the fight against Mental Health Discrimination.  To continue learning about this cause, there are many organizations you can follow that are dedicated to supporting those affected by mental illness.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness is one leading organization that raises money and awareness for mental health each year through walks, advocacy talks, conventions, and awareness events around the country.

As our nation grows in innovations and scientific discoveries, we learn more about how to better our society.  This includes deleting discrimination against minority populations. This includes those with mental illness, and it is our responsibility to not allow them to be forgotten.

Improvements In Society

Canadian Employers Enforce Inclusion

Despite the discrimination that exists when it comes to hiring people with mental illness, some successful employers say that hiring people with many different perspectives is beneficial. A Canadian study investigated the financial and social effects of hiring people with mental illness and providing necessary accommodations.  As a result, they found that creating an inclusive work environment benefited not only the aspiring worker but the organization as a whole. Here’s what some people who participated had to say:

“As a social enterprise, we see creating accessible and sustainable employment as a beneficial end … investing in people who have barriers in the workforce results in loyal and dedicated staff, with less sick days and staff turnover. We have discovered that when you go above and beyond for your staff, they will in turn go above and beyond for you.”

– Owner, Small food services, consumer-run enterprise

“I disclosed my mental illness in my interview for this role, and advised of the pros and cons of it in the workplace.  Being so open at the get-go enabled me to start in this role with certain accommodations and supports including setting ideal working hours allowing for self-care and establishing appropriate boundaries to ensure I could operate at my best.  Being open also enabled me to help reduce stigma in my workplace and allowed me to become a valuable and empathetic resource for my staff.”

– Accommodated employee with lived experience, Large public-sector organization

Mental Health Education for Adolescence

New York became the first state to require mental health education in public schools in 2016.  The state set an important precedent for the rest of the country– that teaching mental health in school is as important as physical education. National Alliance on Mental Illness is one organization committed to integrating mental health education into more schools.  Educating children about mental health at a younger age helps to disseminate stigma and teaches ways to monitor and care for personal mental wellness. Learn more about New York’s initiative here.

Celebrities Speak Up

In an attempt to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, many popular celebrities have spoken out about their own struggles.  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson opened up about his depression on Oprah Winfrey’s Network.

Singer/Songwriter Demi Lovato is open about her Mental Health issues.  She has also donated her time and money to support those with Mental Illness.  She even holds mental health workshops for her fans to attend before shows.

Pop-Culture Coverage

Influential mediums have become more aware and supportive of educating about mental health.  Glamour Magazine is just one example of a hip, fashion and lifestyle magazine dedicating a story to mental health awareness.  In this article, the author calls for change in how mental health is addressed at work.

 

Why People are Hesitant to Disclose their Mental Illness at Work

When a person with mental illness is properly managing their condition, there is usually no reason they cannot successfully work in whatever field they are otherwise qualified for.  However, some employees are still hesitant to disclose their mental illnesses to their bosses because of the fear of being stigmatized due to their differences.

No one should have to withhold critical medical information from someone they are interacting with daily because they fear being discriminated against.  Even more importantly, when someone with a mental illness does not disclose their medical information to their boss, it can be extremely difficult for them to get the accommodations they need and do their best work.  Legislation protects people with psychiatric illnesses from being fired due to their illness alone.  But the rules can be bent.  Additionally, if someone believes they were unjustly fired due to their mental illness, going to court with the issue can be expensive and can exacerbate their existing condition.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employee cannot be fired from a job because they have disclosed a mental health issue to their boss.  However, an employee can legally be fired if it is found that he or she cannot perform “essential functions” of a job as determined by an employer.  If a boss is implicitly or explicitly discriminatory toward people with mental illness, they may create stricter standards for these employees.

Once it is known that an employee has a psychiatric disorder, bosses are required to make “reasonable accommodations” so that the employee can enjoy equal employment opportunities.  Typically, these accommodations include allowing time for doctor appointments or group therapies, providing a quieter work environment, or allowing for more frequent breaks.

Accommodations must be provided unless deemed “unreasonable” by the boss. Again, if a someone has implicit or explicit biases toward people with mental illness, they can find holes in the ADA and unjustly fire an employee.  One example was depicted in a New York Times article about disclosing mental health issues to your boss. In summary, a woman who requested Fridays off from her job due to group therapy sessions held that day.  She withheld the true reason for her Friday absences from her boss for months.  When she finally disclosed the true reason for her missing Fridays, her boss decided that these accommodations were unreasonable, and the woman was fired.

Eighteen percent of Americans live with mental illnesses, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. With such a large portion of the population affected, having legislation fails to protect working citizens with mental illness is not an option.  One way to help the legislation that is in place actually do its job is to spread knowledge and enforce acceptance for people with mental illness in corporate settings.  Otherwise, the 1 in 6 Americans living with mental illness has reason to be afraid to disclose their illness at work.

America Does Care About Mental Illness

Various organizations are crying out to increase professional awareness and legitimization of mental illness.

However, mental health care in the United States has made various strides in the past 10 years.  The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was passed in 2008.  This act made it mandatory for employers or other group insurances to cover physical health and mental and behavioral health issues equally.  In other words, this act made it so that the mental health care benefits provided to employees must be equal to medical health care benefits.  By definition, this act confirms mental health an equally serious caliber as physical health, and forced the professional industry to recognize this.

Although employers are now required to validate mental health and physical health needs, some people still say that even medical doctors do not believe mental health is as significant as physical health.   However, there is a growing number of cases in the US in which medical doctors are integrating mental health care procedures into their practices.  For example, many physicians are making mental health check-ups a part of their typical check-up routine.  Family physicians are a vital resource for people who have recently acquired mental health issues because there is already an element of trust in their relationship.  Medical physicians incorporate mental health care into their check-ups by noticing signs of mental illness, administering questionnaires, and providing psychiatric referrals if necessary.

Additionally, Schools and Universities across the nation have begun making mental health services a priority.  The University of Maryland, for example, created more psychologist positions to meet students’ mental health needs.  Georgetown University is making similar additions to their health care staff by adding staff psychologists and a psychiatrist. Additionally, many schools have organized peer counseling services as a cheap and easy way to aid students struggling with their mental health.

 

Overall, it is untrue to say that the United States is not making big strides to meet the needs of society’s mental health.  Professional and educational communities have both begun making it a priority.  States are continually creating legislature to ensure people with mental illness are treated.  Washington introduced legislation to combat the shortage of mental health staff, Virginia passed a law to help people in mental health crises find care faster, and Minnesota passed a bill allowing state dollars to be used to pay for mental health initiatives.  These are only three of countless examples of how mental health care is finally being legitimized and implemented throughout America.

Actually, People with Mental Illness are No More Violent than Anyone Else.

So far in 2018, 34 mass shooting incidents have occurred in the United States, according to data from the gun violence archive. This unsettling statistic has caused a general unrest in the country, and many people have scapegoated mental illness to provide an answer to this issue.  

However, the statistics on mental illness and the United States’ levels of mass shootings do not match up. Relatively, the number of people living with mental illness in the U.S. is equal to that of other prosperous countries around the world.   But there are significantly many more mass shootings in the U.S. than anywhere else on the globe.

Additionally, an academic study in 2016 found that only 4% of violence was caused by mental illness alone.   Using mental illness as an excuse for the high mass shooting rates in the United States is incorrect and contributes to the frequency of discrimination toward people with mental illness.

Not only are mental illness and violence not directly related, but people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violent situations.  In fact, people living with mental health illnesses are 10 times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime.

When people with mild to serious mental illness do not receive treatment, they can quickly become ostracized from others, unemployed, and homeless.  This puts people who have a mental illness, and are no more violent than those without, in risky situations.

Regarding police brutality, people with mental illness are also statistically more at risk. People with mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police. Discrimination against people with mental health issues plus the lack of understanding about how to address people with mental illness contribute to these numbers.  Approximately 1 in every 10 police encounters involves a person with mental illness, however many police are not properly trained on how to approach someone who’s mentally ill.

Perpetuating the falsity that people who are mentally ill are dangerous or more violent than those who do not suffer from mental illness is completely backward.  This idea keeps society ignorant and biased towards the mentally ill, prevents those with mental illness from receiving the treatment they need, and puts them at a greater risk of being the victims of violence and being killed unnecessarily by police.  If we, instead, disseminate the idea that the mentally ill are no more violent than anyone else and simply require some medical attention, we can begin to diminish discrimination of people with mental health issues.

Meet the Bloggers

Samantha Walker

I am currently a Junior Communications Major at the University of Maryland.  As a teenager, I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and Chronic Depressive Disorder. Although my situation put a hardship on my teenage life– while my friends were going to high school, playing sports, and going to the  mall, I was in the hospital learning “coping skills” — I feel completely fortunate that my parents were able to see I needed help, pay for my medical treatment, and take time off work to drive me to my appointments and be involved in my therapy.  Now, a young adult managing her mental illnesses, I am equipped with the resources to live a full life.

My situation is unique.  For adults whose mental illnesses surface later in life, it can be extremely difficult to find the time, money, and support to get help. 

I care to educate and eradicate Mental Health Discrimination because I know first hand how burdensome having a mental illness is.  Our mission is to change society’s view of mental illness and call out the “stigma” against mental health conditions as discrimination. This way, more people will be encouraged to seek treatment and policy will make treatment more available to people with mental illnesses.  

Kristen Lizzio

My name is Kristen Lizzio and I am a Junior Communications Major at the University of Maryland. People struggle with mental illnesses on a day to day basis, and it is extremely important to stop the stigma associated with those suffering from one. Mental health is especially important to me as my childhood best friend was diagnosed with depression in middle school. Personally being by her side through such hardships, I see how important it is for others to be informed and educated on these illnesses. The stigma related to mental illness needs to be changed within our society and allow those who face these conditions to seek proper treatment and overtly speak about their mental health.

Rachel Quigley

I am a senior Communications major at the University of Maryland. I am originally from Boston but have been spending most of my time in Maryland for the past three years. During my first year of my time at UMD, I was considering majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education, and thus took many classes on this topic. I learned a great deal about how individuals with mental illnesses are educated and live. Not only are adequate education strategies lacking for these individuals, but they are automatically put into categories in society based on factors that they cannot control. Additionally, my grandfather recently suffered through a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, a mental illness, for many years. My family was lucky to give him the care he needed but many people do not get this type of experience. The stigma of having a mental illness, taking care of your own mental health, and being able to openly discuss these topics is something that needs to be improved in this society.