Employment

This document is organized according to three different target groups: employers, mental health service providers and consumers of mental health services. It is hoped that the strategies suggested will provide steps for each of these groups to take so that, when working together, they will maximize the possibilities for successful employment.

This booklet is written primarily for people with psychiatric disabilities and it reflects their personal view points on the subject of job retention.

This guide highlights and describes various “return-to-work” strategies and provides practical tips for implementing them most effectively. It has been designed as a practical resource tool for mental health providers/ program planners, vocational rehabilitation counselors, occupational therapists or anyone else, whether on a personal or professional level, who is involved in supporting consumers to find and keep meaningful work and overcome their barriers to employment.

Mental Health Works helps organizations to manage their duty to accommodate employees experiencing mental disabilities such as depression or anxiety in the workplace. In many cases, employers are so afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing, that they say nothing. This can lead to decreased productivity, lower morale, and conflict in the work environment. We help employers respond immediately and appropriately when employees experience mental health problems and effectively manage performance and productivity issues. It is founded on the belief that focusing on solutions around mental health issues in the workplace will benefit employers and employees alike.

This workbook is meant to help individuals with mental health problems build self-confidence and create ideas on how to find a job. The exercises in this manual are designed to help identify strengths and expectations about work/life balance. These exercises are also beneficial for those in a support group and job skill building sessions.

This resource guide developed for the Access to Real Work project of the Canadian Mental Health Association – National office. It includes two sections; the first on Hints on Employment providing guidelines for new employees and what to expect, and the second on Workplace Accommodations. The information comes from career counsellors and the personal experiences of consumers.

This guide is designed for employers concerned about retaining employees with a mental illness, and those actively seeking to hire people with a psychiatric disability. It outlines principles and practical strategies useful to small businesses and corporations, the private sector as well as government services.