Discussing flexible scheduling or options for working from home.Using wall planners or a color-coded system to help with time management and managing confusion.Having access to apps for anxiety and stress.Allowing noise-cancelling headphones to help reduce distracting noises.Other examples of workplace accommodations for individuals with mental health conditions include: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ( )

Here are other resources that may be able to help if you believe you have been discriminated against in the workplace: Ticket Program service providers, like State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, Employment Networks (EN) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) offer resources that may be helpful to you. To help manage such stress, workplace accommodations could include requesting written instructions to help address memory issues or modifying the break schedule to accommodate a therapy appointment.Ĭoncerned About Workplace Discrimination?ĭiscrimination can come in many forms and people with disabilities are vulnerable to workplace discrimination – both when applying for a job and once they have a job. This can be stressful because they never know when their symptoms will show up. If your mental illness makes it difficult for you to perform important tasks at work, accommodations such as adjusting your work environment or the way you perform a task can allow you to better perform the essential functions of the job.įor example, someone navigating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may struggle with anxiety and have difficulty focusing and making decisions at work. Similar to people with physical disabilities and health conditions, people with mental health conditions may need support and can request reasonable accommodations to help them succeed in the workplace.īut how do you know if your mental health condition qualifies as a disability protected by the ADA? According to the National ADA Network, a disability is any physical or mental health impairment that significantly limits one or more of your major life activities. Your mental health also affects your responses to stress and how you interact with others at work. Your mental health, including emotional, psychological, and social well-being, can affect how you think, feel and act. Not only are you protected from discrimination based on your disability, you may also be able to seek reasonable accommodations so that you can participate in the job application process, perform the essential functions of a job or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by employees without disabilities. Whether you have an observable disability or an invisible one, this law helps you access the same employment opportunities and benefits as individuals without disabilities. The good news is that you have rights.įor three decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has opened doors for people with disabilities, protecting them from discrimination in all areas of their daily lives, including the workplace. Once in the workforce, you may worry about being treated differently by an employer or coworker or fear losing your job if you choose to disclose your disability. Searching for the right job can take several tries. adults who live with a mental illness, the workplace can be a challenging environment. Whether you're looking for a job or already have one, if you're one of more than 50 million U.S.

Invisible disabilities list