May The Force Be With Her—Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia Spoke Out About Mental Illness In and Out of Her Workplace
Carrie Fisher is an iconic hero. Not only did she portray a princess and one of the greatest leaders of the Rebel Alliance, eventual savior of the universe and all of its many galaxies, but Fisher is also well known for speaking up about a matter that most employees tend to hide in their workplaces—bipolar disorder, once known as manic-depression.
In April, I wrote here about the stigmatization of mental illnesses. I told you that one recent study states that nearly 85% of people say they’re uncomfortable discussing mental illness at work, which can cause problems for your workplace.
Why?
Well, bipolar disorder is a complicated mental illness, but like a physical illness, it is a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The ADA specifically prohibits employers from taking an adverse action (demotion, termination, etc.) against employees with mental health impairments as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Yet stigma surrounding mental illness still persists.
Bipolar Disorder, In Particular
Why is bipolar disorder, in particular, so difficult? While there are a few types of bipolar disorder, people with the illness suffer most acutely from mood swings. But, wait, you might think, can’t we all be moody? “What’s the big deal?”
Well, it’s more than that. This mood disorder is characterized by unpredictable mood changes, known as manic and depressive episodes. In a manic phase, one may experience excessive energy and irritability, heightened mood, decreased need for sleep, exaggerated self-confidence and may engage in recklessly pleasurable or dangerous activities; depressive episodes may be characterized by severe lows, loss of energy, inability to concentrate and persistent lethargy.
And while bipolar is thought to be a lifelong illness with no cure, the disorder can be managed with medication and psychotherapy.
As Ms. Fisher famously said, “One of the things that baffles me (and there are quite a few) is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. In my opinion, living with manic depression takes a tremendous amount of balls. … At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.”
What Can Employers Do?
As employers, we should try building an atmosphere of inclusion where no employee fears losing his or her job by coming to you and saying, “I have bipolar disorder (or anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, etc.), and I need an accommodation to continue to do my job well.” These employees will work tirelessly for you when and if they know you understand and will accommodate their needs.
Indeed, the director of state policy and advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness stated, “Particularly because of the struggle they’ve been through, they’re often extraordinarily dedicated to their company and their work.”
Misperception feeds discrimination against those with mental illness
Why wouldn’t people just disclose the information as they would disclose a hearing impairment to a future or current employer?
As one study at PsychGuides.com noted, so many “people perceive those with a mental illness as individuals with a collection of negative traits. It is often difficult to recognize that behaviors associated with mental health conditions vary and are often not personality traits, but side effects of a mental health condition.”
While some celebrities have spoken out about mental illness, like Carrie Fisher and the late Robin Williams, misunderstandings of mental illness still persist.
Companies have been perceived to be less likely to hire employees suffering from a mental illness. There are even examples of employees being coached to hide their mental illness because of how it made their coworkers or bosses feel.
But the news isn’t all bad. PsychGuides notes that there are examples of programs created specifically by companies to help their employees identify if a coworker might be emotionally distressed.
Employer Takeaways
As I’ve said previously, there are steps you can take to de-stigmatize mental illness in the workplace and help your employees who suffer from bipolar and other mental disorders. Here are a few I’ve provided before and some news ones:
Offer your employees the opportunity to self-identify with a disability.
Determine whether or not an employee requires an accommodation. Actually talk to the employee about this. We call this “engaging in an interactive discussion.” Should you consult a lawyer for this discussion? Sure, absolutely, never hurts.
Obtain from your employee or his or her doctor an understanding of how the disability affects the employee’s ability to do the job.
Provide the accommodation, and if that’s leave, common for employees with mental illnesses, help them transition back to work upon their return. JAN has an extensive list of accommodations particularly for employees who suffer with bipolar disorder including flexible scheduling, additional time to learn new tasks, time off for counseling, frequent breaks and backup coverage for when the employee needs breaks, and telework, just to name a few.
Finally, offer mental health benefits as part of your standard medical coverage. Mental health care is so expensive, you’re sure to earn employees’ undying appreciation.
As Ms. Fisher famously told Diane Sawyer in a recent interview, “I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, I’m still surviving it, but bring it on.” Her words resonate because….living with this illness is a lot of work.
Accommodating mental illness is the law, and, think about it, it’s part of being a decent employer, one who understands that mental illness can strike anyone in any line of work.
I’ll close with this—may the force be with you, Carrie Fisher. Thanks for paving the way for girls to grow up dreaming of saving the universe—not just being saved by a handsome prince— and for being brave enough to speak out loud and clear.