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

2. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20092 Overview Background of the research Employment issues for people with experience of mental illness Overview of some key findings Implications and Recommendations

3. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20093 Research Background Collaborative project – Masters research conducted in 2007/8 The University of Auckland Balance New Zealand Exploratory – hypothesis-generating Methodology Participants (n = 26)

4. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20094 Exploratory Research (1)Rates and manifestation of mental health discrimination in employment (2)Factors that contribute to, and minimise, discrimination in job-seeking and within employment (3)How to make employment more responsive to people who experience of mental distress and what sorts of supports are most useful

5. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20095 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

6. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20096 What we already know… Employment increases people’s - Ability to self-advocateFeelings of contribution Access to resourcesFinancial security Develop skillsSocial status Self esteemSense of purpose Social inclusion and participation Costs of unemployment

7. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20097 Overview of Results Rates of Mental Health Discrimination What Contributes to Discrimination? How to Minimise Discrimination? What is a supportive work environment?

8. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20098 Mental Health Discrimination

9. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 20099 What Contributes to Discrimination? Three themes – 1.Lack of Knowledge 2.Negative Beliefs 3.The media

10. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200910 How to Minimise Discrimination? Two themes – 1.Education in workplaces 2.Challenging Beliefs

11. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200911 What constitutes a supportive workplace?

12. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200912 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

13. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200913 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”

14. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200914 Employment Services –Integration of vocational and clinical goals –Upskilling of practitioners in legislative and policy frameworks –Post employment support Strategic Disclosure Reasonable Accommodations Implications/Recommendations

15. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200915 Non-responsive labour market? Insufficient supports? Inefficient sectoral interaction? Future research… Future developments

16. Vanessa Cooper – ASENZ Conference, 200916 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

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!