medical leave of absence related to a mental illness episode (i.e. depression) experience difficulty maintaining a working, stigma-free relationship with their employer. Those returning to the same work environment find that performance and behavioral difficulties which initially interrupted work have altered employer perception of their professional abilities. Furthermore, the stigma of having this type of condition can be as overwhelming to the employee as it is to the employer.⁸

The following are major myths and facts regarding the impact of mental illness on the workplace:⁹

* Myth 1: Mental illness is the same as mental retardation.

Facts: The two are distinct disorders. A diagnosis of mental retardation is chiefly characterized by limitation in intellectual functioning as well as difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, among persons with psychiatric disabilities, intellectual functioning varies as it does across the general population.

 

* Myth 2: Recovery from mental illness is not possible.

Facts: Long-term studies have shown that the majority of people with mental illnesses show genuine improvement over time and lead stable, productive lives. For many decades mental illness was thought to be permanent and untreatable. People with mental illness were separated from the rest of society through institutionalization in mental hospitals. As medications were discovered which helped to alleviate the symptoms of mental illness, there was a gradual evolution toward the provision of treatment and rehabilitation services in the community.

 

* Myth 3: Mentally ill and mentally restored employees (the term denotes when the disorder is effectively treated) tend to be second-rate workers.

Facts: Employers who have hired these individuals report that they are higher than average in attendance and punctuality and as good or better than other employees in motivation, quality of work, and job tenure. Studies reported by NIMH and the the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) conclude that there were no differences in productivity when compared to other employees.¹⁰

* Myth 4: People with psychiatric disabilities cannot tolerate stress on the job.

Facts: This oversimplifies the complex human response to stress. People with a variety of medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders, may find their symptoms exacerbated by high levels of stress. However, the source of personal and job-related stress varies substantially between individuals. Some people find an unstructured schedule to be very stressful while others struggle with a regimented work flow. Some people thrive on public visibility or high levels of social contact, while others require minimal interaction in order to focus and complete tasks. Workers with psychiatric disabilities vary in their response to stressors on the job. In essence, all jobs are stressful to some extent. Productivity is maximized when there is a good match between the employee's needs and working conditions, whether or not the individual has a psychiatric disability.

* Myth 5: Mentally ill and mentally restored individuals are unpredictable, violent, and dangerous.

Facts: The vast majority of these individuals are not dangerous or violent. Upon learning that an applicant has a mental illness, some employers may expect that the individual is likely to become violent. This myth is reinforced by portrayals in the media of people with mental illnesses as frequently and randomly violent. A scholarly review of the research liter-