Tips for reducing mental illness-related stress at work

When we are suffering from pain, we usually take medicine and feel the effects soon after.

However, if you are suffering from a mental illness, it may interfere and make it challenging to successfully complete your work. This may affect your performance level at work. Mental illnesses may become apparent after long periods of working. Mental illness such as depression and schizophrenia can be combatted if the patient is properly medicated and has a treatment team helping them.

Work may help a person cope with their mental illness by developing a standard routine for their daily lives. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 1 in 25 people currently living in the U.S. suffers from some form of mental illness. These numbers show how prevalent mental illness is in our society.

Mental illness can sometimes make a person feel helpless to carry out simple tasks. You may want to use these workplace strategies to motivate you to continue working.

• Sign up with your state unemployment office to help you find a job. They can help you find vocational opportunities that match your skill set.
• Share your progress with your job coach and employer.
• Stay active to help alleviate stress.
• If you had a psychotic episode, make sure you meet with your treatment team including your psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, and vocational rehabilitation counselors and share all information.
• Update your monthly and yearly treatment goals.

In Pennsylvania, mental illness is a lawful medical condition. You may want to consider applying for social security disability income (SSDI). It may be difficult to prove your claim on your own. You may want to contact an experienced workplace attorney who can guide you to get the benefits you deserve.