How can we end mental health stigma in the workplace?

People with mental health difficulties in Ireland can still experience stigma at work; we explore how we can change this.

Stigma can arise because of lack of awareness and understanding about mental health, and it can negatively affect people’s experiences of working life. Things are improving, but people with mental health difficulties in Ireland still experience stigma and discrimination when it comes to work; this can be especially true for people with serious and enduring mental health difficulties.

Life without mental health stigma is achievable, however. Our #NoStigma campaign asks us to imagine life without stigma in the home, community and workplace, and shares information on what we can all do to make this a reality.

In this #NoStigma article, we consider:

• why we need to achieve life without stigma in the workplace
• why work can be an important part of the recovery process for many people
• what helps when it comes to work and mental health difficulties.

Achieving life without stigma in the workplace

There are many ways for us to leave stigma and discrimination behind when it comes to work.

1) Increased awareness and understanding of mental health needs

There has been much work done in recent years to improve how mental health is understood and approached in the workplace. An example of a national stigma reduction workplace programme is the ‘SeeChange in Your Workplace’ pledge. The SeeChange website also offers resources and supports for workplaces to tackle stigma and improve mental health awareness.

2) Supports for people with mental health difficulties who are looking for work

There is a range of training and employment supports available for people who may have more severe or ongoing mental health difficulties and who would benefit from support in getting a job. These include supported employment services, such as the EmployAbility service, and specialist educational and training providers, such as the National Learning Network.

For people availing of community mental health services, access to an Individual Placement and Support programme may also be an option.

3) Supports or reasonable accommodations for people returning to work

For people returning to work after time off for mental health recovery, reasonable accommodations may be of benefit. Reasonable accommodations are changes that an employer must make to job tasks or structure, or amendments to the work environment, in order to ensure equal opportunities in the workplace.

This is an obligation under employment equality law, unless it would place a "disproportionate burden" on an employer, such as a very high financial cost. However, there are numerous grants available to employers, and many reasonable accommodations do not involve particular costs. For example, when it comes to mental health needs, time off to attend appointments or a flexible work schedule may be helpful and effective changes. You can learn more about reasonable accommodations here.

4) Increased awareness of, and responsiveness to, our rights to live free from discrimination

We all have the right to work without experiencing stigma and discrimination. Work without mental health stigma would mean:

• Our workplaces are inclusive and supportive environments
• We all experience equal opportunities for employment and for progressing at work
• We all get access to available support in the workplace if we need it
• We can let others know if we are struggling
• We don’t delay in looking after our mental health.

We are all also protected from mental health discrimination at work under national laws. The main employment equality law is the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. You can find out more about employment law from IHREC. IHREC has also produced a guide to your rights if you are discriminated against in the workplace or while seeking employment.

You can also watch our #NoStigma at Work video below to learn more about your rights in the workplace and supports available at work if you are going through a mental health difficulty.

Work and recovery

Work can be an important part of both supporting our mental health in daily life and recovering from mental health difficulties if we experience them. This is especially true when we feel safe and supported in work environments, and this goes far beyond the financial benefits that paid employment provides.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that when work is meaningful and when work conditions and environments are safe and good, it can be protective of our mental health. Importantly, work can contribute to recovery and inclusion for people living with ongoing mental health difficulties.

Research with people in recovery from mental health difficulties - such as psychosis, bipolar affective disorder and major depression - shows that work can foster pride and self-esteem, provide a helpful sense of routine, offer a sense of personal meaning and, overall, enable the process of recovery. People with experience of mental health difficulties, including severe and ongoing difficulties, have also highlighted how the experience of mental health recovery itself has helped in their work-life, by, for example, drawing them towards altruistic (caring or charitable) roles or having their personal experiences being recognised as an asset.