ASENZ Conference 2009

1. ASENZ Conference 2009 Employment and Discrimination for people with experience of mental illness Like Minds Like Mine Health Promoter Mental Health Foundation

2. Overview • Background of the research • Employment issues for people with experience of mental illness • Overview of some key findings • Implications and Recommendations Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

3. Research Background • Collaborative project – • Masters research conducted in 2007/8 • The University of Auckland • Balance New Zealand • Exploratory – hypothesis-generating • Methodology • Participants (n = 26) Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

4. Exploratory Research • Rates and manifestation of mental health discrimination in employment • Factors that contribute to, and minimise, discrimination in job-seeking and within employment • How to make employment more responsive to people who experience of mental distress and what sorts of supports are most useful Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

5. Employment was seen as … • “a chance to become worthwhile and productive” • “provided stability and independence” • “the knowledge that one is contributing… [which in turn] contributes to wellness” - Study participants Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

6. What we already know… • Employment increases people’s - Ability to self-advocate Feelings of contribution Access to resources Financial security Develop skills Social status Self esteem Sense of purpose Social inclusion and participation • Costs of unemployment Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

7. Overview of Results Rates of Mental Health Discrimination What Contributes to Discrimination? How to Minimise Discrimination? What is a supportive work environment? Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

8. Mental Health Discrimination Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

9. What Contributes to Discrimination? Three themes – • Lack of Knowledge • Negative Beliefs • The media Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

10. How to Minimise Discrimination? Two themes – • Education in workplaces • Challenging Beliefs Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

11. What constitutes a supportive workplace? Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

12. Positive Employment • Quality Relationships • Access to external sources of support • Supported employment, unions, careers advice… • Type of job [i.e. conditions] • The ‘right fit’ • Reasonable Accommodations Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

13. Implications/Recommendations • Workplaces • Resources - access to information, advice, and support • Mental Health education in employment • Like Minds - More assertive anti-discrimination interventions around behaviour change – i.e. “hot spots” Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

14. Implications/Recommendations • Employment Services • Integration of vocational and clinical goals • Upskilling of practitioners in legislative and policy frameworks • Post employment support • Strategic Disclosure • Reasonable Accommodations Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

15. Future developments Non-responsive labour market? Insufficient supports? Inefficient sectoral interaction? Future research… Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

16. Contact details www.likeminds.org.nz│www.mentalhealth.org.nz resource@mentalhealth.org.nz vanessa@mentalhealth.org.nz 81 New North Rd, Eden Terrace Auckland, 1446 Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 2009

17. References • Corrigan, P. W. (2000). Mental health stigma as social attribution: Implications for research methods and attitude change. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice, 7(2), 48-67. • Duncan, C., & Peterson, D. (2007). The employment experiences of people with experience of mental illness: Literature Review. Wellington: Mental Health Foundation. • Honey, A. (2004). Benefits and drawbacks of employment: Perspectives of people with mental illness. Qualitative Health Research, 14(3), 381-395. • Lennan, M., & Wyllie, A. (2005). Employer attitudes and behaviours relating to mental illness. Wellington: Ministry of Health. • Mental Health Commission. (2005). Discriminating Times? A re-survey of New Zealand print media reporting on mental health. Wellington: Mental Health Commission. • Mental Health Commission. (2000). The Discriminating Times: A report on an investigation into news media (re)presentation of people with mental illness. Wellington: Mental Health Commission.

18. Oakley Brown, M. A., Wells, J. E., & Scott, K. M. (2006). Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand mental health survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health. • Peterson, D, Barnes, A, & Duncan, C. (2008). Fighting Shadows: Self-stigma and Mental Illness. Wellington: Mental Health Foundation. • Peterson, D. (2007). I haven't told them, they haven't asked: The employment experiences of people with experiences of mental illness. Wellington: Mental Health Foundation. • Peterson, D., Pere, L., Sheehan, N., & Surgenor, G. (2004). Respect Costs Nothing: A survey of discrimination faced by people with experience of mental illness in Aotearoa New Zealand. Auckland: Mental Health Foundation. • Tse, S., & Yeats, M. (2002). What helps people with bipolar affective disorder succeed in employment: A grounded theory approach Work, 19, 47-62. • Waghorn, G., & Lewis, S. (2002). Disclosure of psychiatric disabilities in vocational rehabilitation. Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, 8, 67-80. • Waghorn, G., & Lloyd, C. (2005). The employment of people with mental illness. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health 4(2), 1-43. Thank you!