DISCLOSURE: PROS AND CONS BAD EXPERIENCES OF DISCLOSURE unpleasant experiences of disclosure. questions was, you ever suffered from ‘Have PROS Your workplace might not be as accepting a mental illness?’ The form also warned him or flexible as it should be in this regard. that he could lose his position of employment You don’t have to pretend to be well A report from the United Kingdom describes if it was found that he had not truthfully all the time. some of the less successful instances where answered all the above questions. After Your employer can make workplace a graduate has disclosed their condition. This much discussion the young man decided to modifications and reasonable quote comes from a student in this situation: disclose. He had worked successfully and adjustments to your workload. happily for a week but upon would advise any student to NEVER EVER “I You further the cause of equal rights and handing in the completed health form, his disclose. The UK (and maybe Australia) is show how people with a mental health position was immediately terminated without ‘well’ not ready for doctoral students with mental condition can be. It’s not your fault that you explanation.11 disabilities. There is zero support, zero defence have a mental illness. against discrimination and zero understanding Mark’s case appears to be a clear case of You might be able to access support of bright mentally disabled people.” discrimination against a mentally ill person 10 from your workplace counselling or in the workforce. Remember that the Disability The following example has been included support services. Discrimination Act almost certainly makes because we think it looks like a worst it illegal for an employer to a person CONS case scenario. in this way and Mark certainly benefit from You could be discriminated against. Mark is a man receiving treatment seeking legal advice and/or taking his case to the for a mental illness. With the help of his Australian Human Rights Commission. You could be stigmatised and subjected support to too much focus on your behaviour. worker, Mark applied for and gained a 10. A. Houghton, L. Piggot & J. Armstrong, Graduates DP ‘Disabled Workmates could be constantly out’ ‘looking position 11’, DEIP Disability Effective Inclusion Policies, p. 6. 11 Mental Health Coordinating Council, < /images/uploaded/Disclosurepercent20ofpercent20Psychiatric Unfortunately some graduates have had
DISCLOSURE: PROS AND CONS BAD EXPERIENCES OF DISCLOSURE PROS You don’t have to pretend to be well all the time. Your employer can make workplace modifications and reasonable adjustments to your workload. You further the cause of equal rights and show how ‘well’ people with a mental health condition can be. It’s not your fault that you have a mental illness. You might be able to access support from your workplace counselling or support services. CONS You could be discriminated against. You could be stigmatised and subjected to too much focus on your behaviour. Workmates could be constantly ‘looking out’ Unfortunately some graduates have had unpleasant experiences of disclosure. Your workplace might not be as accepting or flexible as it should be in this regard. A report from the United Kingdom describes some of the less successful instances where a graduate has disclosed their condition. This quote comes from a student in this situation: “I would advise any student to NEVER EVER disclose. The UK (and maybe Australia) is not ready for doctoral students with mental disabilities. There is zero support, zero defence against discrimination and zero understanding of bright mentally disabled people.” 10 The following example has been included because we think it looks like a worst case scenario. Mark is a man receiving treatment for a mental illness. With the help of his support worker, Mark applied for and gained a position questions was, ‘Have you ever suffered from a mental illness?’ The form also warned him that he could lose his position of employment if it was found that he had not truthfully answered all the above questions. After much discussion the young man decided to disclose. He had worked successfully and happily for a week but upon handing in the completed health form, his position was immediately terminated without explanation.11 Mark’s case appears to be a clear case of discrimination against a mentally ill person in the workforce. Remember that the Disability Discrimination Act almost certainly makes it illegal for an employer to a person in this way and Mark certainly benefit from seeking legal advice and/or taking his case to the Australian Human Rights Commission. 10. A. Houghton, L. Piggot & J. Armstrong, ‘Disabled Graduates DP 11’, DEIP Disability Effective Inclusion Policies, p. 6. 11 Mental Health Coordinating Council, < /images/uploaded/Disclosurepercent20ofpercent20Psychiatric
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