jobs for mentally ill

Hi @getbetter

Thanks for raising this topic

Mental illness can change a lot of things in life, including work opportunities. It’s great that you’ve been able to think outside of your regular role as a tradesperson and consider other employment arrangements that might work for you.

Apart from working from home, there are other flexible working arrangements out there. Sometimes it can help to think about what parts of work are anxiety-provoking and what type of roles could minimise that. Do you have any thoughts on what particular part of work you would like to have less of in order to keep things manageable? Or what aspects might be good?

Then again, sometimes we just need a break from work altogether and it’s hard to know what you’ll feel ready for at the end of that break.

There have been a few other discussions about mental illness and work here on the Forums that you might like to check out:

Anybody done peer support work? (another non-9 to 5 type option)

Living life like a side effect (a conversation about re-entering the workforce)

Feel free to add your thoughts to those discussions @getbetter, and perhaps some other members who’ve posted about employment will have some insights to share here. Feel free to jump in @utopia, @Boho89, @MintyX, @believeinme, @Queenie

@getbetter, you might also be interested in our Friday Career Chats hosted by @Renstar every Friday from 10am-4pm here on the Forums. I’ve posted links to some recent Career Chats below. The topics are closed so you can no longer post, but you can still read through the information. And hopefully you can join @Renstar this Friday.

Benefits and challenges of work

Managing anxiety at work

Maintaining a positive outlook at work

Hello Acacia and Nikolai

Thanks for your reply, I agree working in a social environment could be better for mental health than isolation, the difficulty i think is finding an understanding team to work with, in my 20's I had a great job working in a great team but in later years that has been harder to come across, it seems some people see your mental illness as a weakness and ride you because of it, it only takes one of those types to make you feel pretty bad, at the moment I do not like being around people and that adds to isolation, Anxiety and fear of the future is my biggest issue just now and I guess a suitable job would help that, I have talked to job service providers about what they can offer but none can say what type of job they could offer and assist with but I will look for opportunities.

With cases of mental illness taking up about 1/3 of the dsp budget you would think there could be a specialist job service provider for this area, I guess it's hard to find employers to give us a go. I have approached employers and explained my condition but do not hear back from them. all pretty ho hum negative I know but as I said I will keep looking for opportunities.

Hi @getbetter

Your topic just reminded me about Career Chat this Friday.

The topic is 'Returning to work'. It kicks off at 10 AEST or you can leave a question or comment in the discussion now if you can't make the session 🙂

Hello getbetter,

Thank you for raising this topic. I'm going through the same in moment. I'm qualified for many things and could do anything from training, teaching to having my own restaurant or business. And what am I doing? Cleaning rooms in a motel... I"m not happy about that, but atm it is the only job I can handle! I'm thinking also of alternatives that give me enough exercise (for side effects of meds and health), not too much contact to people, but enough to not isolate me so badly. Sometimes I get very sick from the meds so it needs to be flexible as well. It's a hard call and I havend figured it out yet. I shyed away from home jobs so far, but I may have a look into it. If you have any news, please post it, its' highly appreciated 🙂 All the best to you.

I work in retail - I won't mention where but it's a job where I have too many interactions in one day with the public-

sometimes the 'interactions' aren't very positive - if anyone has worked in retail they would know what I mean..

sometimes people are frustrating - they don't communicate clearly they think you have some special mind reading ability because you work behind a counter ...

Nothing surprises me anymore - people can ask questions as if they have left their common sense behind

I reckon it would be better to get a job with a good supportive team of people and something where you don't have to see too many customers

the thing about my job is you have to do things quickly when it gets busy - that's one of the main skills

you need to have

I can understand this sort of job would be really stressful if someone has never faced customers before..

would be a nightmare - especially some of the dodgy cases I have experienced over the past few years

Haha, 'special mind reading ability' - that made me giggle 🙂 I aggree. Worked in hotels on the reception before and customers there are similar and often enough very frustrating. Quit my last job because of that. I figured, that if I do a cleaning job for only 3-4 hours and an office job or so after that or for only some days, it should work out. Just some balance. But what employer would do that? Maybe a retail job for another company with less hours would be an option for you? Then, with the other hours you may find something completely else that has nothing to do with people.. like working in a store or warehouse or gardening, just casual and see how you go. It's always hard as living costs need to be covered as well... But I heard that some companies get government funding if they employ a certain number of 'disabled' people. I'm not sure about the legal status, but maybe that workds for 'mentally ill' people as well? I might look into that during my next hypomania 😄