Mental Illness in the Workplace Results
In my last newsletter, I asked people what their feelings were about mental illness in the workplace. Here are the results.
Q: Do you know of anyone with a mental illness at your current or past workplace (not including yourself)?
A: 69% said yes
Q: If you have a mental illness, do you feel you have been discriminated against at work because of it?
A: 53% yes, 38% said no, 9% said they don't have a mental illness
Q: Have you ever witnessed prejudice against mental illness at your current or previous workplace (could be something that was done or said)?
A: 66% said yes
When asked the details about the above, here were a few responses:
"I was bullied at my workplace by my boss. She became aware of my mental Illness when I applied for FMLA accommodations. HR said they wouldn’t tell her the nature of my illness but she gleaned it was mental illness in nature. She then began to gaslight me. Seriously, I know gaslighting is “a thing” right now in popular culture but she
honestly was a perpetrator or this emotional abuse."
"I suffered anxiety after we had a shooting at my job. I felt I was chastised as being fragile and whiny. I told people about my anxiety caring for my nephews, I was labeled as dramatic and that I had a black cloud over my head. I saw other sensitive people made fun of . It was like High School all over again. I chose to retire at 52, to get
away from social circumstances at work."
"I have a mental illness and my employees at my current job know. I know about many of them having them as well. I do what I can to help and accommodate their needs because I know what it’s like to be discriminated against."
I don't think most people would be surprised about these numbers and responses. We all need to do better.
