How to Disclose Your Mental Illness to An Employer | Advice Series

Our latest video in our advice series answers the question: "I am drowning at work and I fear that I will have no choice but to disclose my illness to my employer. I am wondering what the best way is to do this. Do you have any experience with this? What is the process like?"

I provide my own experience with this as well as advice I've learned from trying to navigate it myself.

I have a background as a social worker and of course have my own experience navigating living with schizoaffective disorder. In these segments I try to bridge together these two perspectives. However I am not a medical practitioner so all advice is purely based off my own experiences and should not be taken as medical advice.

JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Join a welcoming community of your peers and find comfort in sharing your experiences. By joining our community, you can benefit from the support of others who understand what you’re going through. We offer live weekly facilitated video peer support groups and text channels to communicate about a wide range of topics. Join today and start feeling less alone with what you’re going through.

HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
We depend on the support of our audience to create this valuable resource. If you have found our content helpful, please consider supporting us today. Your contribution can make a huge difference and enable us to continue providing valuable resources to those living with mental illness.

MENTAL HEALTH APPAREL
Wear your support for mental health! Our t-shirts, sweaters, and mugs not only spread awareness but also help support this channel. Pick up some mental health apparel today and make a statement while making a difference.

SPEAKING & CONSULTING
Looking for an expert speaker or consultant for your upcoming event or project? With years of experience and a passion for mental health advocacy, I can provide the insight and inspiration you need to make a positive impact. Visit my speaking website to learn more!

SOCIALS

#schizophrenia #livingwellwithschizophrenia #schizoaffectivedisorder #mentalhealth #employment

[LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY

[theojjuiceisloose]

my current job cares so much about my mental health it's amazing, they helped me when I had an inpatient stay at the hospital

[headless-potato]

On my previous company they were really supportive about it at first. I wrote down about what is psychosis, what does it mean to me, how do I deal with it and my needs (like time off or some alone work time). After a while they bullied me to leave, kind of saying I was overreacting and even faking my symptoms to not be productive at work (which of course I wasn't productive for a couple of weeks, ever now and then, but when I was productive, I WAS PRODUCTIVE). I ended up leaving to preserve my mental health. I joined a new company no longer after I'd left. Went through the same process of explaining what psychosis is, how it affects me (I even recommend your channel). It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Even though no one could relate, they were (and still are) VERY supportive and made an effort to understand me and help me do what I do best. Since I joined the new company, I had no full-blown episodes and I feel great.

I'll never again let companies (or anyone) bully me for who I am.

[koffinkat]

Here is how to disclose, YOU DON'T! Trust me they will not hire you if you do! I have gone through this my whole life! Do not tell them! Once they hire you then they can find out, If you tell them you have an illness they will not hire you! Only tell them if you truly need too.

[ljgee]

It is none of their business. I would never disclose anything about my health to an employer

[catwww]

Thanks for addressing this topic. Keep in mind Human Resources works for the employer, not the employee. I'm in a situation where I'm paying the price for disclosure that involved HR. My bosses are all very supportive of me but HR has forced me into a reduced role. The union, legal aid and my bosses are all on my side but because of technicalities in favour of the employer there is nothing we can really do.

[abrowne]

I'm glad I came across this video. I was told by my boss today that I was getting a letter on my file regarding my attendance. I plan to disclose about my mental illness. I'm also in Canada so I looked up what my rights are for this since it's considered a disability. I'm SO anxious to talk to my boss. It's not something I ever thought I would have to disclose. I'm not embarrassed, it's just not a comfortable thing to talk to your employer about. Plus my direct boss is new to supervising where I work so I don't have the close relationship that I did with my previous manager.

[mosaicowlstudios]

For me, the benefits of any accommodations my employer could provide NEVER outweighs the paranoia that is created by a superior or direct peer knowing my "secret". I will always focus on "who else knows now?" or "this is definitely affecting the way my boss perceives me" (in an obsessive, ruminating way characteristic of the symptoms of my schizophrenia). I'm thinking about finding a trusted person in another department in our building, and confiding in them and asking if they could be a sounding board or if they would notify me if my mental health seems to be slipping without my awareness.

[ronalddonner]

How to disclose?--You DON'T!At least not if you don't want to face ignorance, prejudice and at best "special" treatment.

[RCPMK]

Love your videos!

My advice...don’t tell them shit. Tell them you have kidney disease and need frequent treatment

[XSemperIdem]

My previous employer would never have accepted someone needing time off for mental health reasons. They vindictively didn't schedule me for a full month because I missed a few days of work after having been taken to the hospital by ambulance (not from work). I got yelled at for not showing up when I was curled up in pain and sick over and over. And yes, I presented a document as proof from the hospital. I saw that employer actually drive other employees into having anxiety and panic attacks. And anything they would find out about your personal life (including health), they would use against you. It was a very toxic workplace and I'm glad I never have to deal with those downright abusive people.
I'd say it's a bit of a calculated risk to disclose, depending on your employer. The added complication in the U.S. is that a lot of people have health insurance through their employer. So that adds the stress of their treatment being dependent on them retaining that job. Sadly that's how some people stay basically trapped in horrible working conditions. Sometimes the very job they are trying to keep for the sake of keeping their health insurance, is the cause of worsening their health.

[alexandermatthewsmusic]

Yes I felt "pushed" out of my last job as it would have been uncomfortable to stay if not fired... And I got that job through family... Also everything from fitness jobs (I qualified as a personal trainer) to cleaning jobs I couldn't get anything not that I disclosed my schizophrenic diagnosis I think employers can just detect differences and they don't like it... I find it funny face tattoos and green mo hawks are welcome differences in employment but mental ones are looked down on... I found speradic work in the TV industrie my dream really and the arts sector seem to be the only excepting ones...

[Global_identity_and_travel]

Great topic!!! Thank you Lawren. You are amazing! 🍁☀️🎁

[WVMothman]

I had a co-worker admit she was treated for bipolar disorder, she felt comfortable confiding knowing I had a family history of schizophrenia.

[aimeejane_writings]

I’m 17 and living with depression and anxiety. I’m currently trying to search for a part-time job to do during college (I’m in the UK) and this is something I’ve been worrying about a lot recently so thank you for sharing. I feel like there’s a 50/50 chance of either getting a good boss/management who are understanding, or getting a bad one. It’s so hard when you don’t know what they’re going to be like when first going into it. This has really helped though so thank you, Lauren! ❤️ Sending you so much love

[chelseyscanlon]

I have BPD but I find all your videos so helpful ❤️ the world is way cooler with you in it. Thank you thank you thank you.

[andrewbaker]

Hi Lauren. I've watched a number of your videos and am left in such admiration of you. You have struggled so much with your life, emotions and experiences. You make me feel so humble. I take my hat off to you. Well done

[RCPMK]

I also want to add that complementary to your videos is everyone’s comments!

Always so kind and it’s great to hear everyone’s point of view. Cheers!!

[etheridgeerik]

Simple; you don't. It will be used against you. I've been burned doing that before.

[yelenarotar]

Really liked your description in this video!