Mental health journalist working on story about mental health disability in the workplace

hi Caroline. check out Temple Universities Community Inclusion Collaborative. They did a study a while ago about stigma and disclosure in the workplace and created a toolkit for employers on how to create a welcoming environment. 

Hi Caroline, I’m wondering if you’re looking for people who have had a mental illness when they are hired and are seeking a supportive work environment with accommodations as needed? Or if you are considering the mental health impact of workplace bullying on employee mental health? Can you say more? Thanks, Karen 

Hi Karen,

I'm looking at people who live with mental health issues and are seeking accommodation in their workplace -- I hope that makes sense. I'm trying to see if/how often people use the ADA to make work better for them, and how effective the law is when they try to use it. 

Thanks for getting in touch and let me know if you have any input/experience with this if you're interested!

Caroline

Hi Caroline, I'll try to follow-up on this. I had first tried to get assistance from a state Vocational Rehabilitation agency, and absent a 'correct diagnosis', I was denied eligibility early in my work/career. Initially, the first diagnostic construct was 'Adjustment Disorder', but 30 years later, when the Veterans Admin/NCPTSD opened their studies of PTSD to non-military/non-veterans, and I participated as a 'research subject, I was able to get confirmation of an appropriate diagnosis. I didn't realize the role of '[traumatic] Anniversary Date reactions. My senior year in High School, while working part-time at Eastman-Kodak, I got three separate raises on my sixth week of employment there.... only to end up getting 'fired' two months after graduation...but was told during my 'exit interview' that they would re-hire me if I brought them a record of 'six months of 'tardiness-free' employment elsewhere. ....

You can respond to me if you’re still working on this. Never would I ask for accommodation cuz it doesn’t exist in what is really needed