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New research estimates that one in 13 people will experience a psychotic episode by the time they are 75.¹ Most often that experience will happen during adolescence or young adulthood. However, for about one quarter of people it occurs after the age of 40, according to a recent study.

The study, led by John McGrath, M.D., Ph.D., with the University of Queensland in Australia, looked at worldwide mental health data from the World Health Organization involving more than 30,000 respondents in 18 countries.

What is a psychotic episode? Does experiencing a psychotic episode mean you have a mental illness or that you will have a mental illness later? What could you do to help someone experiencing psychosis?

Psychotic experience

A psychotic experience, or psychosis, involves symptoms that make it difficult for a person to know what is real, to think clearly, to communicate, or feel normal emotions.

It can involve:

• hallucinations – hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling things that are not there. The most common type of hallucination is hearing voices.
• delusions – false beliefs that do not change even when faced with proof they are false.

Psychosis may be most commonly thought of as a symptom of schizophrenia, but it can be a symptom of several different mental disorders. It can also be caused by a number of medical conditions and substances, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain tumors, some medications and alcohol and drugs, including marijuana. A thorough medical exam, laboratory tests, and psychiatric evaluation are used to help identify the cause of psychosis.

Psychosis and mental disorders

The association between psychotic experience and mental disorders works in both directions. A separate study led by McGrath concluded that psychotic experiences are associated with an elevated risk of later mental disorders, including psychotic disorders, depression, anxiety, and others; and most mental disorders are associated with an increased risk of a later psychotic experience.²

Recognizing symptoms and family support

A report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights the complexity of recognizing symptoms and the challenge of discussing them openly, even among people who care about each other. NAMI conducted a survey of people who had personally experienced psychosis and who had witnessed someone in early stages of psychosis.³About 40 percent of individuals said they were the first to recognize their own symptoms, however only about 15 percent of friends and family said that individuals were the first to recognize their own symptoms.

As one survey respondent explained: “I knew something wasn’t right but I was afraid to tell anyone about my thoughts… Then I got to a point that I was so wrapped up in those delusions and hallucinations I was helpless.”

The survey highlighted the lack of help or support and isolation felt by many—more than 20 percent of individuals and family and friends felt that “no one” helped when the symptoms occurred. People identified a number of ways that people had helped them, including:

• Listening patiently and compassionately, without making judgments
• Making suggestions without being confrontational; remaining gentle and calm
• Explaining the nature of the illness and what was happening
• Encouragement that “normalized the experience,” such as returning to school or work
• Identifying problems early

If you or someone you know is experienced a psychotic episode, talk about it. Get a thorough evaluation from a psychiatrist or other health care provider to help identify the cause and appropriate treatment.

More than two-thirds of U.S. adults have smartphones, and among young adults 18 to 29 years, more than 85 percent have smartphones. Researchers are looking to tap into this growing smartphone use for new ways to improve mental health research and treatment.

One group of researchers conducted a study solely through mobile devices—using them to recruit, screen, enroll, treat and assess participants in a randomized control trial depression study.

Led by Joaquin Anguera, Ph.D., with the University of California, San Francisco, researchers used social media and other methods to recruit participants. They delivered three different depression interventions through mobile apps. Participants used the apps daily and completed monthly assessments.

View more information and resources for depression

While the results of the intervention are still being evaluated, the researchers found that the mobile devices were a successful and cost effective way to reach a wide population, recruit participants, and provide depression interventions. One challenge researchers found was retaining study participants.

Another group of researchers looked at using smartphones to monitor symptoms and help in treatment for people with depression. The study was led by researcher Anh Truong, M.D., with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta on May 14.

Researchers evaluated whether daily mood ratings entered by patients on their phones can help monitor and classify symptoms in people with depression. Over an eight-week period, study participants self-reported their daily moods using a specially developed mobile app called Smartphone and Online Usage Based Evaluation for Depression (SOLVD). Results from the app were compared with results from standard instruments, such as the Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9) which were measured biweekly in-person by clinicians.

The smartphone ratings were similar to those using the standard instruments and the ratings were more closely aligned for people with moderate-to-severe depression than individuals with mild depression.

While these studies are preliminary and small, they seem to show that the use of smartphones and apps hold much potential as a tool to help improve research and treatment of depression or other mental health conditions.

The practice of mindfulness is linked to wide-ranging health benefits and has gained tremendous popularity in recent years as a strategy for self-care.

What is mindfulness? UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center defines mindful awareness as “paying attention to present moment experiences with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with what is . . . It invites us to stop, breathe, observe, and connect with one’s inner experience.” Mindfulness meditation is a specific technique used to help develop the capacity for mindfulness.

A great deal of research has documented physical health benefits of mindfulness, such as an improved immune system, lower blood pressure, and better sleep. Mindfulness has also been linked to mental health benefits, such as reduced stress and anxiety, and improved concentration and focus, less emotional reactivity.

How Mindful are You?

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(from Greater Good Science Center at University of California Berkley)

Mindfulness-based approaches are also increasingly being explored and used along with other therapies to treat a variety of mental health conditions.

Below are a few examples of mindfulness-based approaches being used to help treat mental disorders. Each typically involves group training in mindfulness techniques, daily practice assignments, and follow-up.

Preventing Depression Relapse

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is being used to help prevent relapse in depression. It combines cognitive behavior techniques with mindfulness techniques like meditation, breathing exercises and stretching to help change the cycle of negative thoughts common with recurrent depressions. MBCT typically involve eight weekly, two-hour group training sessions, daily homework assignments, and follow-up meetings. Home assignments may include awareness exercises and practice integrating awareness skills into daily life. A recent meta-analysis looking at mindfulness-based cognitive therapy used to help prevent depression relapse found it effective, particularly for patients with more severe depression.

Treating Substance Use Disorder

Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) was designed to treat substance use disorder. It integrates mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavior skills specifically focused on helping patients learn to choose a reaction instead of automatically turning to an addictive substance. Similar to other mindfulness programs, it involves eight weekly, two-hour group training sessions, daily home exercises, and follow-up. It involves both formal practices, such as sitting meditation, and briefer informal mindfulness practices to increase awareness and flexibility in daily life.

Research comparing mindfulness-based relapse prevention with other treatment for aftercare found it to be effective and particularly useful in supporting longer-term benefits of treatment. In the study patients with mindfulness-based relapse prevention treatment had significantly less drug use and a lower probability of any heavy drinking at a 12-month follow-up than those undergoing other treatments.

Treating Anxiety Symptoms, Psychosis, ADHD

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may also be useful for treating symptoms of anxiety, according to research published recently in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers looked at changes in anxiety levels among patients with generalized anxiety disorder using different treatments. They found that MBCT and cognitive-behavioral therapy-based psychoeducation were both effective in reducing anxiety symptoms.

Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions have also been found to be useful additions for improving symptoms and reducing hospitalization among people with psychosis. Some research shows that for people with ADHD, mindfulness training may be a helpful supplement to medication in addressing remaining symptoms of inattention. Meditation programs are being used to help reduce PTSD severity in veterans.

Other research has looked broadly at use of mindfulness-based group therapy compared to individual cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with various conditions including depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders. They found that the mindfulness group therapy as effective as the individual therapy.

If you are curious and haven’t yet given mindfulness a try, there are numerous online resources and apps to help you get started, such as Mindfulness Coach developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You may find yourself a little less stressed and more relaxed!

Often, the stigma you experience because of your mental illness can seem as bad, if not worse, than the symptoms of your mental illness. Here are some strategies for dealing with stigma:

• Reach out to friends, family and co-workers. This might be difficult to do at first, as it may seem like removing yourself from situations where you believe stigma will occur will make you feel better. However, your social support is extremely valuable to you right now.
• Educate yourself on the facts of your mental illness so you are able to accurately answer questions.
• Educate your family and friends about your disorder, as they may believe some of the myths and misconceptions regarding mental illness as well.
• Remember, you are NOT your illness. Remind yourself that you are not defined by your illness, no matter what anyone may think, say, or feel. Only you can define who you are and what you are capable of achieving. Your uniqueness is something that provides you with a novel perspective on things.
• Distance yourself. Do not allow your sense of worth to become attached to anyone else’s fears or labels. Don’t stress if you are not able to change everyone’s ideas about mental illness.
• Walk away if you need to. If the situation persists and creates increasing stress for you, you can walk away. You are not defined by other people’s fears.
• Protest stigma perpetuated in local media, commercials and movies.
• Model respect to those around you. Your friends, children and peers learn from you. Make sure you have a positive and tolerant attitude about mental illness. Talk openly about the facts others and keep the lines of communication open.
• Attend a support group. Many people find it rewarding to be around people who have been through similar experiences and can offer support and suggestions.

Before you can fight stigma you need to arm yourself with information about many of the common mental illnesses that adults and children are diagnosed with. This is not an exhaustive list, but a start in understanding many conditions that were once viewed with awe or bewilderment.

(Sources: Canadian Mental Health Association, Kids Mental Health, Teen Mental Health)

Mood Disorders:

Depression. Everyone feels down or unhappy at different points in their life – maybe after a break-up, or after losing their job. This is completely normal and a part of everyday life. You might feel sad, disappointed and empty, but usually these feelings pass after a short time. Depression becomes an illness (clinical depression), when the feelings described above are severe, last for several weeks, and begin to interfere with work, school or your social life. Depression can change the way a person thinks and behaves, and how his/her body functions. Some of the signs to look for are:

• feeling worthless, helpless or hopeless
• sleeping more or less than usual
• eating more or less than usual
• becoming angry, disagreeable or argumentative
• skipping classes or school
• having difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• loss of interest in activities
• avoiding people
• overwhelming feelings of sadness or grief
• feeling unreasonably guilty
• loss of energy, feeling very tired
• thoughts of death or suicide

Depression affects over 3 million Canadians, specifically 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10.

Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a cycle of depressed mood (described above), “normal” mood, and mania. People can cycle between these moods very quickly (daily) or very slowly (yearly).

Mania is an elevated or irritable mood, with symptoms like:

• inflated self-esteem or self-importance
• less need for sleep
• increased energy and mood
• racing speech and thoughts
• excessive irritability, aggressive behavior and impatience
• poor judgment
• reckless behavior, like excessive spending, making rash decisions and erratic driving
• difficulty concentrating

Kids and teens with bipolar disorder don’t always act the same as adults with bipolar disorder do. Some kids may have very fast mood changes and may have some of the other mood-related symptoms listed above, like irritability and high levels of anxiety. But they may not show other symptoms that are more commonly seen in adults.

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1% of the population; it typically starts in late adolescence or early adulthood and affects men and women equally.

Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders that affect behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health. It is common for people to suffer from more than one anxiety disorder, and for an anxiety disorder to be accompanied by depression, eating disorders or substance abuse.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder. GAD is characterized by extreme worry about routine life events; it lasts at least six months, during which time the individual is extremely worried more days than not. The worry and anxiety cause emotional distress, difficulty with enjoying life, problems with relationships and school (or work) and may lead to many physical symptoms for which there is no other explanation (such as headaches, lump in your throat, sighing, aches and pains, nausea, etc.).

Panic Disorder. Panic disorder is expressed in panic attacks that occur without warning, accompanied by sudden feelings of terror. Often, this unpredictably makes the individual very anxious that an attack could happen at any time. Physically, an attack may cause chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality and fear of dying.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This is a condition in which an individual suffers from persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that are impossible to control and cause great anxiety. He/she can’t stop thinking harmful, dangerous, wrong, or dirty thoughts. He/she will then engage in behaviours (compulsions) to temporarily rid him/herself of the anxiety. Typically, obsessions concern contamination, doubting (such as worrying that the iron hasn’t been turned off) and disturbing sexual or religious thoughts. Compulsions include washing, checking, organizing and counting.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD involves re-experiencing a terrifying event over and over again, including the anxiety that goes along with it. Survivors of rape, child abuse, war or a car accident may develop PTSD. Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, depression and feelings of anger or irritability.

Social Phobia. People with social phobia feel a paralyzing, irrational self-consciousness about social situations. As a result, the individual feels uncomfortable participating in everyday social situations, particularly, because he/she is afraid of being observed or of doing something horribly wrong in front of other people.

Specific Phobias. Just as the name implies, this disorder involves a fear of a specific object or situation. People suffering from a specific phobia are overwhelmed by unreasonable fears that they are unable to control. Exposure to feared situations can cause them extreme anxiety and panic, even if the individual recognizes that their fears are illogical. Fear of flying, fear of heights and fear of open spaces are some typical specific phobias.

Eating Disorders

Despite their label, these disorders are not all about eating or food. Eating disorders are a way of coping with deeper problems that a person finds too painful or difficult to deal with directly. They are complex conditions that signal difficulties with identity, self-concept and self-esteem. Eating disorders cross cultural, racial and socio-economic boundaries, and affect men and women.

Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. The media glamorization of so-called ideal bodies, coupled with the view that dieting is a normal activity, can obscure a person’s eating problems. It can be difficult for a person with an eating disorder to admit they have a problem.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss due to extreme food reduction. Symptoms include:

• refusal to keep body weight at or above the normal weight for one’s body type
• dieting to extremes, usually coupled with excessive exercise
• feeling overweight despite dramatic weight loss

Bulimia nervosa results in frequent fluctuations in weight, due to periods of uncontrollable binge eating, followed by purging, symptoms include:

• repeated episodes of bingeing and purging, usually by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics – methods which are both ineffective and harmful
• eating beyond the point of fullness, often in secret

Binge-eating disorder, or compulsive eating, involves periods of overeating, often in secret and often carried out as a means of deriving comfort. Symptoms include:

• periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating
• sporadic fasts or repetitive diets

Warning signs of Eating Disorder

Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. Someone suffering from bulimia can have a normal weight, but the activities they are engaging in can be deadly. Here are some warning signs of eating disorders:

• low self-esteem
• social withdrawal
• claims of feeling fat when weight is normal or low
• preoccupied with food, weight, counting calories and with what people think
• exercises excessively
• denies that there is a problem
• wants to be perfect
• intolerant of others
• unable to concentrate
• withdraws from social activities, especially meals and celebrations involving food

Schizophrenia

At first glance, schizophrenia may seem like a great puzzle. Its causes are still uncertain; its symptoms, variable. It strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age group and affects an estimated one person in a hundred.

Schizophrenia is a brain disturbance involving hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and/or behaviour. It often starts slowly. When the symptoms first appear, usually in adolescence or early adulthood, they may seem more bewildering than serious. The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person, from mild to severe. Schizophrenia tends to appear in cycles of remission and relapse.

During relapse, people with schizophrenia may experience one or all of these symptoms:

• delusions and/or hallucinations
• lack of motivation
• social withdrawal
• thought disorders

Delusions are false beliefs that have no basis in reality. People with schizophrenia may think, for example, that someone is spying on them, listening to their thoughts, or placing thoughts in their minds.

Hallucinations most often consist of hearing voices that comment on behaviour, are insulting or give commands. Less often, people with schizophrenia may see or feel things that aren’t there. Overall, hallucinations can involve all 5 senses.

Being diagnosed with a mental illness can be a life changing experience. Talking about it with friends, family, peers and co-workers can help to shatter the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Here are a few points to help you get the conversation started:

Come to terms with it yourself. Figure out your own feelings about your mental illness before you discuss it with others. Tell your story to yourself first and decide what parts you want to tell and what parts you don’t. Then, be confident and honest with whomever you talk to. Be prepared for negative, as well as positive, reactions.

Know the facts. Find out as much information about your mental illness as you can so that you are able to answer any questions in a factual manner.

Decide who you want to tell. Just because you decide that you want to tell others about your mental illness doesn’t mean that you have to tell everyone you know.

Decide how much you want to tell. Your personality will dictate how much information you share with others- some people are naturally very open, whereas others tend to be more private. You will likely tell more (and different) information to your close friend than you would to a co-worker.

Don’t forget to tell the positives in your story as well. It can be easy to focus on the negatives, but try to remember to include examples of wellness and healing – such as treatments that have worked, people you have found supportive or new insights that you have gained.

Set boundaries. Let the person know when you want their support or advice and when you just want them to listen. Remind them that you are still the same person you were before, and you will still like to do and talk about all the same things you used to.

Don’t be afraid. Often once conversations about mental illness have started, people will start talking. Don’t be afraid to educate people about mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it.

Talking with friends and family about your mental illness can be difficult; and stigma, unfamiliarity and frequent misunderstanding about mental illness can add to the challenge.

Deciding who to talk to is a personal decision—some people may be comfortable sharing with many people, others only a few close family members. Even when people are well-meaning, they may not react the way you hope and not everyone will be understanding or open to discussion.

Why talk about your mental health challenges? Just talking about your situation and illness to someone understanding can reduce your stress and help you feel better. It can also help those close to you understand better and be prepared to provide the support you need, including knowing how to respond in specific situations. Talking to family members and friends may help relieve their concerns about you.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests carefully considering the pros and cons of discussing your mental illness.

A few suggestions and tips on getting started:

• Start with talking to people who you know will be more understanding and supportive—someone you respect and who respects you and is willing to listen and honor your confidentiality.
• Consider the timing – is this a good time for the person to talk or are they busy or preoccupied?
• Plan and practice what you are going to say. Decide what you want to tell—you don’t have to share everything.
• Express your needs — suggest specific ways the person can help and support you.
• Explain about situations that may trigger problems.
• Know the facts and be prepared to help educate with general information about mental illness or information specific to your situation.
• Be prepared for a variety of responses and keep in mind that it may take some time for people to understand and deal with their own feelings about what you are sharing with them.
• Set boundaries – be clear about when you want advice and when you want someone to listen.
• Make sure to share the good things – such as new things you have learned, examples of wellness and treatment working, people who have been supportive.

(Sources: NAMI, Pathstone Mental Health)

When talking with children about mental illness

Talking with children about yourself or a family member with mental illness may be even more difficult, but equally important. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers a few suggestions:

• Communicate in a straightforward manner using words and concepts appropriate to the child’s age.
• Have the discussion when the child feels safe and comfortable.
• Ask about what the child understands and about concerns; allow the child to express thoughts and feelings.
• Watch the child’s reaction during the discussion and slow down or back up if the child becomes confused or looks upset.
• Consider relating mental illness to a familiar physical illness. For example, if appropriate, you could relate the need for ongoing mental health care to the ongoing need for management and treatment of diabetes.

Mental health blogger Natasha Tracy, who has written about talking to family members about having bipolar disorder, notes that: “Expressing what you need from a person can actually help them come to terms with your mental illness because it makes them feel like they can do something specific to help and support you. People who love you will want to do that.”

As the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 34, suicide is a serious public health problem. There arewarning signs of suicide, many of which may be visible on social media. A team of researchers at a mental health data analysis organization called Qntfy are looking into linguistic patterns that may help to identify someone in crisis on social media before a suicide attempt. Even without access to lots of data, social media presents an opportunity for friends and family to recognize changes in their loved ones emotions, then intervene and prevent a suicide.

Several of the most popular social media platforms have plans in place to help someone who may be in danger and expressing suicidal ideation. If a person is scrolling through social media and sees a concerning post, they have the option to report the post to the site’s administrators. In most cases, the user is prompted to contact emergency services or a suicide hotline before submitting the report if they think the person they’re reporting is in danger.

An NIMH study has found that social media interventions for young people at risk of suicide can be conducted safely, but more research is needed to determine efficacy.

When a Post is Reported

Facebook works closely with The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to improve its response to potentially suicidal members. If a post is reported for suicidal content on Facebook, the post is reviewed by a team of Facebook staff members. The at-risk person will receive a notification that a friend is concerned for their safety and given suggestions for ways to receive support.

After reporting a post, the concerned person has the option to send their friend in crisis a supportive message. Facebook has suggested copy that users are welcome to use. Another option is for the concerned person to contact a mutual friend and they can reach out to the distressed person together.

If a tweet is flagged on Twitter, it is sent to a team “devoted to handling threats of self-harm or suicide.” The team will then reach out to let the at-risk person know that someone is concerned about their well-being, to share resources and encourage them to seek help. Twitter also encourages users to reach out to the person they’re concerned about and encourage them to find support.

On the Instagram app, a user has the option to report an image for self-harm or suicidal content, which will result in Instagram removing the post. Instagram states on their website that they will then reach out to the person who may be at risk.

Snapchat does not have a way to report users within the app. Instead users can report the content on the website by filing a Safety Concern. After designating the concern as a suicide threat, the user is met with contact information for suicide hotlines and urged to contact local law enforcement in case of immediate danger. If the user needs more help, they are given the option to fill out a form, describing the incident in more detail.

Using Facebook for Suicide Prevention

Reporting a suicidal message after it’s already posted is not the only option on social media. A group of Army veterans have taken to using Facebook as a protective measure—they check in on each other with the explicit and important purpose of making sure that their fellow veterans are safe. Veterans are at high risk, and about 22 veterans die from suicide each day.

With this in mind, former Army Sgt. E. Michael Davis posts a message on Facebook on the 22nd of each month: “Buddy check on 22! Where are my warriors?!” Others respond with brief updates of what they’re doing, but most important is that they are alive and doing something. Many veterans and active duty members of the military participate in asupport network like this.

How to Get Help if You Have Suicidal Thoughts

If you need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

If someone indicates they are considering suicide, listen and take their concerns seriously. Let them know you care, and they are not alone. Encourage them to seek help immediately from a knowledgeable professional. Don’t leave them alone.

Mental Health Impairments under ADA

Many people with mental health conditions have a right to reasonable accommodations in their workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives protections to individuals with disabilities for equal opportunity in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

The ADA requires that employers provide “reasonable accommodations” to help people with disabilities, including mental health impairments, do their jobs. An individual has a “disability” under the ADA if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities or has a history of such an impairment. In many circumstances, small, inexpensive accommodations can make a big difference a person’s ability to do their job effectively.

Workplace Accommodations

While many physical impairments and related workplace accommodations may be fairly obvious to others, challenges related to mental health impairments are often not obvious. A range of workplace accommodations are possible depending on the situation and the individual’s needs. A few examples of accommodations for mental health problems are listed below.

• For difficulties with memory: using written checklists and instructions, using electronic organizers, allowing more training time, providing a mentor for daily guidance.
• For organization/time management: using daily, weekly, or monthly task lists, dividing larger tasks into smaller assignments, prioritizing tasks, meeting regularly to discuss progress.
• For stress/emotions: allowing flexible scheduling (breaks, work from home, leave for counseling), allowing the presence of a support animal, encouraging use of stress management techniques.
• For panic attacks: allowing the employee to take a break, allowing use of relaxations techniques or contact with a support person, removing environmental triggers.

Not all people with mental health conditions will need accommodations to do their jobs and some may only need minimal accommodations or may only need them at certain times.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the U.S. Department of Labor, provides free expert guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. If you’re interested in exploring possible accommodations, you can review specific ideas for accommodations by disability, by topic or by limitation through JAN’s Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) system.

JAN also provides practical information on how to request accommodations from an employer. Additional guidance on requesting accommodations and on the mental health provider’s role is available from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

APA Resources

For Patients & Families

Learn about common mental disorders, including symptoms, risk factors and treatment options. Find answers to your questions written by leading psychiatrists, stories from people living with mental illness and links to additional resources.

Learn More

For Employers: Partnership for Workplace Mental Health

The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health is a program of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, a subsidiary of the American Psychiatric Association. The Partnership works with businesses to ensure that employees and their families living with mental illness, including substance use disorders, receive effective care. It does so in recognition that employers purchase healthcare for millions of American workers and their families.