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Employers should not be worried about taking on someone who has experienced mental illness, says Dame Susan Devoy.
The former world squash champion features in a series of TV adverts for the Like Minds, Like Mine campaign that challenge negative perceptions of people with mental illness. She says there shouldn't be a stigma attached to it at all.
"I think that people with an illness are frightened to be open about it [with employers] and to say 'I've got this illness'. If someone has a mental illness and you employ them then it should be no big deal," she says.
Devoy was speaking following a report from the Mental Health Foundation called I Haven't Told Them, They Haven't Asked, that shows job hunters and employees with experience of mental illness often face discrimination from employers and work colleagues.
"People are reluctant to employ people who have mental health issues," says Devoy. "It's one of those things that people may not say. But it is what they think."
Devoy says in many cases people with a mental illness don't mention it when applying for jobs but the issue raises its head once the person starts work and it is better if the employer understands what is going on.
"If someone phones in sick saying they are depressed then an employer will say 'get over it - get a life'.
"That is the attitude they have. But if someone rings in saying they have a cold then there is no stigma attached to it at all."
Devoy says what is really important is for employers to provide an environment where people can feel comfortable about going to their boss and talking about their condition.
The Mental Health Foundation's research found that the greatest effect mental illness had on people's ability to look for work was a lack of confidence and motivation to apply for jobs.
Fear of becoming unwell, symptoms of their illness and side effects of medication were also mentioned as barriers to employment.
The report says examples of discrimination include people being turned down for jobs, being teased by employers and colleagues and being treated differently from other members of staff.
Judi Clements, foundation chief executive, says the report is the first New Zealand research into the employment experiences of people with mental illness.
"We hope this research willchallenge employers' attitudes and preconceptions about employing people with experience of mental illness and that they will begin to look at the steps they need to take to combat discrimination in the workplace," she says.
"Despite the prevalence of discrimination, few people will complain to their employer using human rights or employment legislation.
"For those who had grounds to complain, the research found that people either did not have the energy to do so because they were unwell at the time, or decided not to because of the fear of repercussions."
Clements says she hopes people with experience of mental illness will enter and stay in employment, and encourages them to safely disclose their history and to complain if they are discriminated against. She says discrimination causes stress, limits potential and is usually based on unfounded stereotypes and myths.
"The Mental Health Foundation is ready to help employers that would like guidance and advice," says Clements.
She recommends employers find out about Working Well, a foundation project that helps employers create mentally healthy workplaces.
"[This] can and does prevent employees from experiencing episodes of anxiety or depression, which in turn reduces the future burden on health services," Clements says.
Devoy says people with experience of mental illness understand their condition and can advise their bosses on the help available.
"Employers have to look at each person differently," she says.
"If an employer makes it a big deal then it will be, and if they don't then it won't be. Because someone has bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia it doesn't mean it is the same for everybody - the condition affects different people in different ways. And we don't want a one-size-fits-all approach."
