Disclosing Mental Health Conditions to Your Employer: 6 Points to Consider

If you struggle with your mental health, you’re not alone. Recent studies show that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental health issues in any given year, and 44% will experience a mental health crisis in their lifetime.  

Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are recognised as disability by the Australian Government, so you are under no legal responsibility to tell your employer about them, but the big question is: should you?  

Disclosing your conditions can bring a lot of benefits. It will allow your employer to better understand and support you, and because mental health conditions are recognised as disability by the Government, your employer isn’t allowed to discriminate against you based on your conditions. But we all know things aren’t always so black and white, so let’s take a look at the pros and cons.  

Pros and Cons of Disclosing Your Mental Health Condition to Your Employer

Pro – You Get Support: Disclosing your condition will allow you the opportunity to discuss the specific requirements you have. Maybe you need more flexible working hours, a desk in a quieter part of the office, or more time off to attend doctors appointments. Whatever your needs are, being open about why you need them will give management the opportunity to accommodate you so that you can take care of yourself and be a more productive employee.  

Pro – Reduces Stigma: Every time we have an open and honest conversation about our mental health struggles we are working to normalise mental health conditions. Stigma thrives in the shadows and staying silent only allows it to grow. By talking about our experiences, struggles and needs we shine a light into that darkness. Every conversation we have paves the way for a more accepting and understanding future.  

Pro – Highlights Patterns: Knowing what people are going through helps create opportunities for change. Being honest about your challenges may help management identify issues within their organisation that need to be addressed. If enough people are open and honest about their mental health struggles, patterns may emerge that allow management the opportunity to mould their workplace culture to better support their staff.  

Con – Personal Vulnerability: Sometimes our mental health conditions take away our confidence, energy, and ability to advocate for ourselves. It takes strength to talk openly about our personal struggles and if you don’t have that kind of strength right now it’s absolutely ok to just stay quiet.  

Con – Lack of Trust: Trusting people with your vulnerabilities can be really hard. Sometimes we are required to work with – or for – people who are not able to be trusted with the most fragile parts of ourselves. If you don’t feel safe in disclosing your mental health conditions because you don’t trust your management team, you may decide to keep it to yourself.  

Con – Ill-Equipped Workplace: Times have changed the world is a very different place than it was only a decade ago, but some workplaces are more modern than others, and some are still operating in the dark ages when it comes to attitudes about mental health. If you don’t feel your workplace is adaptable, accepting or accommodating enough to support you, you may decide that disclosure is more trouble than it’s worth.  

The decision about whether or not to disclose your mental health condition is a deeply personal one, and what is right for one person may not be right for another. Your mental health needs to be your priority, so choose whichever option will best support your own wellbeing. 

Mental Health Conditions and Disability Employment Services (DES)

CoAct supports people living with mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia to find employment where they feel supported. Check your eligibility for DES here.