FOREWORD surprisingly, and are searching for employment, one issue for careful These days I am employed full-time in consideration is disclosure. community mental health, but I still clearly remember the painful years when I thought I experienced psychosis, lost my grip on that it was impossible for me to work due to the and tumbled all the way down to My own policy of disclosing to employers episodes of anxiety, depression and psychosis. the bottom. has served me extremely well, but there Consequently, I am delighted that this valuable is no universal recipe available in this complex Learning to maintain one’s mental health resource has been produced to assist graduates area. Accordingly, material has been included to climb the mountain is not a task that can – – with a lived experience of mental illness in their in this resource to help you determine what be mastered overnight. It is a time-consuming transition to employment. course of action is best suited to your process requiring the acquisition of insight, individual circumstances. climbing’ is an excellent metaphor skills, knowledge and the right equipment. ‘Mountain for such a resource. The metaphor also It’s also wise to assemble a good team. In any event, congratulations on completing resonates with my own personal experience. your studies. I hope that your transition to First and foremost, it is essential to remember Shortly after I was diagnosed with bipolar employment is a rewarding process; one which that safety is always the top priority in such disorder, I foolishly ignored words of caution ultimately leads to a fulfilling career. The view pursuits, and that it is possible to choose and pushed myself far too hard in an is worth all the effort. a different path at any time to reach a summit, unrealistic attempt to rapidly reclaim elements or to change the destination altogether. Keith Mahar of my life. It was equivalent to trying to sprint ACE National Network Inc. Ambassador and If you have a lived experience of mental illness up the steepest side of a mountain. Not founder of
FOREWORD These days I am employed full-time in community mental health, but I still clearly remember the painful years when I thought that it was impossible for me to work due to episodes of anxiety, depression and psychosis. Consequently, I am delighted that this valuable resource has been produced to assist graduates with a lived experience of mental illness in their transition to employment. ‘Mountain climbing’ is an excellent metaphor for such a resource. The metaphor also resonates with my own personal experience. Shortly after I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I foolishly ignored words of caution and pushed myself far too hard in an unrealistic attempt to rapidly reclaim elements of my life. It was equivalent to trying to sprint up the steepest side of a mountain. Not surprisingly, I experienced psychosis, lost my grip on the and tumbled all the way down to the bottom. Learning to maintain one’s mental health – to climb the mountain – is not a task that can be mastered overnight. It is a time-consuming process requiring the acquisition of insight, skills, knowledge and the right equipment. It’s also wise to assemble a good team. First and foremost, it is essential to remember that safety is always the top priority in such pursuits, and that it is possible to choose a different path at any time to reach a summit, or to change the destination altogether. If you have a lived experience of mental illness and are searching for employment, one issue for careful consideration is disclosure. My own policy of disclosing to employers has served me extremely well, but there is no universal recipe available in this complex area. Accordingly, material has been included in this resource to help you determine what course of action is best suited to your individual circumstances. In any event, congratulations on completing your studies. I hope that your transition to employment is a rewarding process; one which ultimately leads to a fulfilling career. The view is worth all the effort. Keith Mahar ACE National Network Inc. Ambassador and founder of
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