[NYAPRS Enews] Kelley: Don't Let Mental Illness Stop You From Working

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: Congratulations to Maura Kelley for the following terrific
column in a recent edition of the Buffalo News. Maura directs Mental
Health Peer Connection and we are also proud to call her NYAPRS
President-elect. 

 

Don't Let Mental Illness Stop You From Working

By Maura Kelley   Buffalo News  June 20, 2012

 
<http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article911805.ece/BINARY/w620/Maura
+Kelley.jpg> 

 

When I first started working at Western New York Independent Living, I
was one of "the working poor." But since then, I've worked hard,
received promotions and salary increases and now own my own home and
support my beloved greyhound. In other words, I control my life.

 

That wasn't always the case. I've been homeless, been in the hospital 13
times for psychiatric illness and have been declared unemployable.

 

During a five-year period when I wasn't working, I worried I'd never
work again. It was stressful dealing with government red tape to receive
a disability check, food stamps and health insurance. It was stressful
dealing with slumlords who wouldn't turn up the heat in the winter or
fumigate the apartment for cockroaches. I had nothing to do on the days
I wasn't in mental health treatment. I lived on Ramen noodles.

 

Now the only government reporting I do is my income tax, and I can pay
someone to do that for me. I now have health insurance that's accepted
almost everywhere in Erie County, so I can choose who treats my mental
health and physical care needs. Best of all, 

I have a place to go during the week, and no matter how tough the day is
at work, it's still less stressful than being unemployed.

 

Recent reports indicate that more than 70 percent of people with mental
health disabilities able to work are unemployed. What I can't understand
is that if the U.S. unemployment rate, which at around 8 percent is
considered too high, why isn't the jobless rate for those with serious
mental health issues considered an unemployment epidemic?

 

The unfortunate truth is that too many people believe that those of us
with serious mental illnesses cannot - or should not - work. For that 70
percent, there is no expectation of work.

 

I believe successful employees need three skills: 1) show up, 2) be on
time and 3) don't steal. If job seekers can keep their appointments when
undergoing mental health treatment, why wouldn't they keep an
appointment with an employer? I also don't see a rash of people with
mental illnesses showing up late for appointments - or stealing things.

 

I've seen for myself that people with serious mental illnesses can work
and contribute their talents and skills to their jobs. It may not always
be a 40-hours-a-week job or a corporate position, but it is something of
value. Yes, sometimes our symptoms flare and we may need to take a
break, but that doesn't exclude us from working, volunteering and
contributing to the community.

 

Many with mental illness fear it's too hard to transition from
disability to employment. But there are work incentives and special
programs to assist them in obtaining employment, volunteer opportunities
and community involvement. They just have to say, "I want to work."

 

At Mental Health Peer Connection, we run two successful employment
programs for people with mental health disabilities and people from poor
economic backgrounds. We serve more than 500 people a year, and about
one- third achieve their goal of employment

I've been where they are, and now that I'm working I totally control my
life. If I can accomplish that, so can they.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/my-view/artic
le911806.ece

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