Books, Articles and Research

Perceived and measured stigma among workers with serious mental illness
This research analyzed the extent to which self-reports of job-related discrimination by persons with serious mental illnesses are associated with econometric measures of discrimination.

Suffering in silence: stigma, mental illness and the workplace
The reality of mental illness in the workplace and the impact, positive or negative, employers have on those who are dealing with it was the focus of this year's Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, a group of senior business leaders and former federal finance minister Michael Wilson (whose son, Cameron, took his life in 1995).

Solutions to discrimination in work and housing identified by people with mental illness
This study examines perceived solutions to discrimination in housing and employment situations.

Mental illness and employment discrimination
This article presents a review of recent research that seeks to determine employment-related stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental disabilities. In this study, researchers take an extensive view of the stigmatization process to include cognitive, attitudinal, behavioral, and structural disadvantages.

Managing workplace depression: An untapped opportunity for occupational health professionals
An article discussing how occupational health professionals are the most qualified to design and deliver destigmatized, customer-friendly programs and services to help employees who are depressed. Integration of services like benefits, health promotion, EAP, and human resources across a company can lead to an effective, organization-wide depression initiative.

Workplace effects of the stigmatization of depression
Employers have previously been shown to hold negative attitudes toward mental illness. The purpose of this survey of human resource officers in UK companies was to ascertain whether these attitudes prejudice employment opportunities for subjects with mental illnesses--specifically, depression--and, if so, some of the beliefs upon which these attitudes are based.

Disclosure conundrum: How people with psychiatric disabilities navigate employment
This qualitative study of people with psychiatric disabilities explored the issues of self-disclosing their mental illness and the complex situations around employment and disclosure.

Employment and mental health service utilization in washington state
This study examined employment among individuals utilizing publicly-funded mental health services in Washington State during a 2-year period through the analysis of archival administrative data.

The sympathetic discriminator: Mental illness, hedonic costs, and the ADA
Discrimination against people with mental illness occurs in part because of how those with mental illness can make other people feel.Thus, a central basis for discrimination in this context is what I call hedonic costs. Hedonic costs are affective or emotional costs: an influx of negative emotion or loss of positive emotion. In addition, the phenomenon of emotional contagion, which is one source of hedonic costs, makes discrimination against people with mental illness peculiarly intractable.

Nearly 10 percent of Iraq vets screen positive for PTSD
This journal article describes a study conducted of the mental state of troops deployed to Iraq and the mental services assessed by and available to service personnel. Information for the study was taken from the Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) given to all service members upon their return from any deployment. See URL for full text.

Stigma as a barrier to employment: Mental disability and the Americans with Disabilities Act
This study examines the role played by stigma in employers' response to the 1990 Americans with Disability Act (ADA). The article describes employers' experiences with employees with mental disabilities and accommodations, specific employment practices, and attitudes towards those with mental disabilities.

Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care
This study provides an initial look at the mental health of members of the Army and the Marine Corps who were involved in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our findings indicate that among the study groups there was a significant risk of mental health problems and that the subjects reported important barriers to receiving mental health services, particularly the perception of stigma among those most in need of such care.

Chinese cultural dynamics of unemployability of male adults with psychiatric disabilities in Hong Kong
In this case history, instead of finding realistic employment, a male adult with psychiatric disability tried to indulge himself in what he felt was his ideal job to fulfill all requirements as an adult male in Chinese culture. The imaginative ideal job gave him excuses to discontinue open employment. Its implications to vocational rehabilitation with male adults with psychiatric disability are discussed.

Employment of individuals with mental disabilities: Business response to the ADA's challenge
This research examines the response of the business community to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with specific focus on the employment of those with mental disabilities.

Perspectives of people with psychiatric disabilities on employment disclosure
A qualitative study, including a focus group and individual interviews, was conducted to gather data from people with psychiatric disabilities/labels regarding employment disclosure. Major findings include the significant impact of disability identity (does the participant think they have a disability?), and the importance of appropriate job matching as a disclosure strategy.

Position statement on employment and rehabilitation for persons with severe psychiatric disabilities
The position statement, developed by NASMHPD, encouraged the integration of employment and recovery goals with service delivery to individuals with mental illnesses. The NASMHPD concluded that State mental health agencies should work to develop tools for appropriate evaluation of plan success in moving covered individuals into employment or partial employment settings.

Association between cognitive functioning and employment status of persons with bipolar disorder
The purpose of this study was to identify variables associated with employment status among persons with bipolar disorder, including cognitive functioning, severity of symptoms, demographic variables, and variables related to course of illness.

American with Disabilities Act of 1990
The current text of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [?ADA?], as amended.

Helping people with severe mental illness to obtain work: Systematic review
This research paper explores possibilities for helping people with severe mental illness obtain competitive employment without the intervention of a job placement program. Resulting data and outcomes are based on a systematic review of earlier studies conducted on mental illness and employment.

Employers, insurers integrate benefits
A brief article in which the writer discusses how psychologists are helping employers to integrate disability, health and employee-assistance program benefits into the workplace.

Strategies For success: A consumers' guide to the workplace
This guide was developed for the Access to Real Work project of the Canadian Mental Health Association - National office. It provides hints for new mental health consumer employees, and information on workplace accommodations.

Mental health in the workplace: An issue for one in five employees
This report was developed by a committee of engaged citizens in Minnesota who were asked to examine how the mental health issues of employees impact the workplace and to identify successful strategies or models for addressing the mental health challenges of those working and for accommodating those with serious mental health problems who want to work.

Mental disabilities in the workplace
This article provides an overview of the ADA and EEOC guidelines, as well as tips for employers.

Mental health and work: Impact, issues and good practices
This report discusses a variety of topics, including the importance of work to a person?s mental health, promotion of mental health in the workplace, issues facing employers and managers. It is hoped that this document will assist employers and employees in raising awareness of the benefits of good mental health practices and encourage the implementation of strategies to maintain a healthy working environment.

Mental health in the workplace
This paper discusses the findings of a series of country studies completed by the International Labour Office which examined legislative, policy and programme measures introduced in Finland, Germany, Poland, United States to address the challenge. The studies will assist in developing policy and enterprise-specific programmes which address the prevention of mental health problems and the promotion of good mental health practices and rehabilitation services.

Case studies on reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities
The purpose of this study is to document the employment experiences of 10 workers with psychiatric disabilities, including their use of workplace accommodations.

People with psychiatric disabilities, employment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Turning policy into practice
This is a report of the proceedings of a two-day roundtable discussion on "People with Psychiatric Disabilities, Employment and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)" held in January 1995.

A new vision of recovery: People can fully recover from mental illness; it is not a life-long process
A brief article in which two views of recovery are discussed, rehabilitation and empowerment views of recovery.