Millions of Americans suffer from mental illnesses. Unfortunately, despite their capability, desire, and need to work, employment rates for these individuals are extremely low, and continuing to decline.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness recently released a report outlining the magnitude, causes, and proposed solutions to the growing problem.
“These statistics paint a pretty bleak picture,” Mary Giliberti, executive director of NAMI, told USA Today.
Among several noted causes for the falling employment rate—which dropped to 17.8 percent in 2012, as compared to just under 60 percent for the general population—was the attribution of negative stereotypes to those living with mental illness.
The report states that “many people find that disclosing their mental illness has a chilling effect on hiring and career advancement,” despite the fact that the necessary workplace accommodations are “low cost and easy to implement.”
Authors of the report call on government officials to lead the way to recovery by developing effective employment programs and updating policies to ensure that mental illnesses “no longer sentence people to poverty.”