ADA Audio Conference Series
April 21, 2009
Understanding Mental Illness: What does an employer need to know?

Slide 1:
Mental Illness: 
Real. Common. Treatable.
Dawn M. Zak
Way of the Willow, LLC

Slide 2:
Mental Health  to Mental Illness
Real. Common. Treatable

Slide 3:
More similar than dissimilar
Universal needs
The power of compassion
Ability to make a difference

Slide 4:
Recovery Means…
The process in which people are able to:
Live
Work
Learn
Participate fully in their community
Reduction of symptoms

Slide 5:
Things to Consider
Working harder and longer
Doing more with less
Increasing job stress
Job insecurity
Differences in job skills/tasks

Slide 6:
Risk Factors/Causes
Family history
Genetics
Environment
Life events
Medications
Other illnesses

Slide 7:
Triggers
Loss
Trauma
Chronic illness/pain
Substance abuse
Stress

Slide 8:
Stigma
Cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate people to fear, reject, avoid and discriminate against people with mental illnesses.
Leads others to avoid living, socializing, or working with, renting to, employing people with mental illnesses.
Deters public from seeking to and wanting to pay for care

Slide 9:
Stigma
Leads to internalized attitudes. 
Causing isolation, embarrassment  and shame. 
Conceal symptoms and fail to seek treatment.
Perpetuates cycle.

Slide 10:
Employee Attitudes about Mental Health
Concerned with confidentiality
Fear impact on job
Unsure of coverage/benefits
Reluctant to talk about it
Myths
Consequences

Slide 11:
The challenges
Affects people in prime working years. 
Chronic nature.
Type of impairment caused.
Mental illness
Handwriting exercise
Some sobering statistics

Slide 12:
What is mental illness?
More than temporary impairment of functioning 
More than a temporary alteration of mood 
Disordered thinking
Undue, prolonged anxiety out of proportion to any identifiable reason or cause

Slide 13:
What is mental illness? (cont.)
Questions to ask: 
		What is the severity? 
		What is the duration?
		How many symptoms? 
		What is the level of impact?
** Get a professional diagnosis **

Slide 14:
Mental Illnesses
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Phobias
PTSD
OCD
Schizophrenia

Slide 15:
Recognizing Depression
Sadness or irritability
Lack of interest in things that had been pleasurable
Change in appetite or weight 
Change in sleep patterns 
Always tired or lacking energy
Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
Can’t concentrate, remember or make decisions
On-going aches and pains
Thoughts of death or suicide

Slide 16:    
Recognizing Bipolar
Hyperactivity
Decreased need for sleep
Unusually irritable
Racing thoughts
Increased sex drive
Excessive energy
Inappropriate behavior
Grandiose notions
Excessive spending

Slide 17:
Recognizing Anxiety
Constant, exaggerated, worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday life
Anticipating the worst
Restless, agitated
Body is constantly tense and unable to relax
Difficulty concentrating

Slide 18:
Recognizing Anxiety (con’t)
Sleep disturbance
Sweating
Heart palpitations
Feeling dizzy or faint
Panic attacks
Exaggerated startle response
Nightmares or flashbacks

Slide 19:
Recognizing Schizophrenia
Hearing or seeing something that is not there
A constant feeling of being watched
Extreme preoccupation with religion
Increasing withdrawal from social situations
Disordered thinking
Delusions
Lack of pleasure or interest in activities
Difficulty in concentrating
Blunt affect

Slide 20:
Workers with mental health issues
More susceptible
Problems with information – particularly when stressed
Medication side effects
Recurrence
Stigma and self-disclosure

Slide 21:
Signs in the Workplace
Decreased productivity
Lack of cooperation
Excessive fatigue
Unexplained aches and pains
Safety/Accidents
Irritability
Trouble completing projects 
Absent-mindedness
Change in behavior
Tardiness
Absenteeism
Alcohol/Drug use
Low morale

Slide 22:
What to Do?
Know your resources
External and internal
Know yourself
Know about mental health and mental illnesses
A few specifics

Slide 23:
As a Member of a Team Consider…
Who works with this person besides you?
Who can you talk with? Who can support you?
Who needs to take the next step?
What are the helpful organizations?

Slide 24:
Taking Care of Yourself
Be aware of your own stress
Take appropriate breaks
Basics/Breathe
Identify your own circle of support
Ask for help
View behavior as a person’s way to communicate

Slide 25:
Ask yourself:
How long have the symptom(s) been going on? 
How many symptoms are there? 
How severe is the symptom(s)? 
How many areas of life are being disrupted/effected by these symptoms?
** Get a professional diagnosis **

Slide 26:
Treatment
Success rate is higher (60-80%) than for other illnesses such as heart disease (40-50%)
You cannot “will it away”
Treatment depends on severity and personal preference
Work can play a therapeutic role
Kinds of treatment

Slide 27:
Treatment
Primary care provider
Mental health specialist (psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor)
Community mental health center
Private clinic
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Clergy

Slide 28:
Potential Local Resources
Local/County/State Mental Health Boards/Departments
State NAMI Chapters (check www.nami.org for contact information)
Employer provided “Employee Assistance Program (EPA)”
Independent Living Centers (check www.ILUSA.COM for Centers in your area)

Slide 29:
National Resources
National Mental Health America  (has State Affiliates)                                    
		1-800-969-NMHA (6642) or  www.nmha.org 
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (Has State/Local Affiliates)
		1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or	www.nami.org

Slide 30:
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University	http://web.bu.edu/cpr/
Partnership for Workplace Mental Health (program of American Psychiatric Foundation) 	http://www.workplacementalhealth.org/

Slide 31:
National Network Regional ADA Centers
	800-949-4232 (V/TTY)
	www.adata.org

Slide 32:
Speaker Contact Information
Dawn Zak
Way of the Willow,LLC
414-322-6184
dzakwillowway@sbcglobal.net
www.wayofthewillow.org