Good employment news for mental health consumers     

Good news: the myth of chronic joblessness among those with mental illnesses has been shattered by a Sustained Employment Study conducted by Boston University's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Started three years ago, the longitudinal survey allows the project directors to shed light on work outcomes over time.

Not only does the study give us hope, it highlights the effective techniques consumers use to keep their jobs and deal with stress in the workplace. Survey One included 696 individuals who met the study eligibility criteria for presence of both a serious psychiatric condition and sustained employment in the 24 months prior to enrolling in the study.

In the preliminary findings, 74 percent of all participants were continuously employed for the 24 months prior to completing the first survey, 17 percent were employed for 18 to 24 of the past 24 months, and 9 percent were employed for 12 to 18 of the past 24 months.

53 percent of all participants had professional or technical jobs, 24 percent had managerial/administrative jobs, 11 percent had clerical/administrative support jobs, 6 percent had service jobs, 4 percent had jobs in marketing or sales, and 2 percent had jobs in production, construction, transportation or repair.

Psychiatric diagnosis was not associated with participants' ability to sustain employment during the two years prior to entering the study. Indeed, 80 percent of all participants had at least one psychiatric hospitalization in the past. What's the prime secret to their success?

93 percent of all participants were taking psychotropic medications at the time of entering the study. While not everyone who pops a pill will ever be employed, I'm certain that taking meds regularly tips the scales in your favor. I take pills and I've been in the workforce full-time for 15 years. I believe that if I weren't on medication, I'd function less than optimally and be reacting to the stress instead of pro-active.

Certain techniques helped study participants cope with symptoms at work. On the job, people took a break, stretched or exercised, talked to a co-worker, took medication, had a snack, or prayed. Other coping methods included going to a private space, calling a friend, listening to music, and meditating or relaxing.

I've been employed in the library field for six years now, and I can vouch for these techniques. Currently, I work as a public service librarian, a job that allows me the time to have a freelance writing career. On any given day, I can retreat to the kitchen for a break, talk with my colleagues, go into a private space and stretch, or call someone on the phone.

There is something not discussed in the results of the survey that I'll bring up now because it directly relates to one's happiness in the long run. The first job you get is probably not going to be your only job, or the one you choose to keep long-term. Indeed, statistics show the average person changes jobs six or seven times in his/her lifetime.

In my 20s, I worked as an administrative assistant, an account executive, and a temporary worker in offices. I was laid off four times in seven years. Though I felt increasingly displaced, I persisted until I was able to discover my true calling, while also relying on the services of a career counselor. He conducted a personality test and analyzed my answers to career questions.

Following up on his leads, I decided to become a librarian, a job that utilizes my communication skills and meshes with my cheerful demeanor. The road was long, and I found the job I love. Thus, there is hope. Not only does the Boston University study bring good news, I'm living proof that there's a job waiting for you, if you keep an open mind, be patient, and are willing to go out there and discover it.