Mental Illness Discrimination occurs when someone is treated differently based on the belief they could have a mental health problem.
Dan uses conflict resolution best practices, academic research, and applied pilot testing to develop innovative programs that prevent it.
What are examples of mental illness discrimination?
Mental illness discrimination might include asking someone invasive questions about a potential mental health condition, screening someone out of services based on their mental health diagnosis or symptoms, refusing a request to make a reasonable accommodation due to their psychiatric disability, or providing any kind of disparate treatment based on the perception that they may have a mental illness.
Why does mental illness discrimination happen?
Discrimination often happens by accident because people have unconscious biases. In the case of mental illness discrimination, research has shown that many people do not realize that this kind of disparate treatment is even a problem. However, it creates a huge burden for people living with mental illnesses as well as legal liability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other state and federal laws.
What can we do to prevent mental illness discrimination?
Because a lot of discrimination happens by accident due to unconscious biases, it is often hard for us to notice it and hard to prevent. Creating fair procedures and processes can help. Having consistent practices for talking about mental health, addressing challenging behaviors, and being accessible to disability needs can prevent discrimination because they can ensure people are treated fairly in situations where someone’s gut feelings may otherwise lead them astray.
How can Dan help?
Dan has developed speaking programs, trainings, and tools that teach best practices for mental health communication, addressing challenging behaviors, and becoming accessible.
Click here to contact Dan