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It has become apparent to the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ that employers and managers are supportive of workers with mental illness. However, there is a need for guidance on how to do this better.

It is highly likely that at least one worker in your workplace will, at some point in time, have a long or short-term mental illness. While you do not need to become an expert in mental health, having a better understanding of what mental illness is (including its possible effects on a worker) enables you to be more effective in handling issues that may arise.

Some workers will choose to disclose their mental illness if they require workplace support. Others may choose not to disclose their illness if they feel they do not require any workplace support or fear an adverse reaction.

The most effective way to attract and support competent and productive workers is to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for everyone including workers with mental illness.

JobAccess is a confidential advice service available to managers who work with workers with disability, including workers with mental illness. The free telephone service provides:

A special thank you goes to the following organisations, particularly for their generosity of time, assistance and goodwill, which contributed to the development of this guide:

The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA) and equivalent state and territory laws make it unlawful to discriminate against, harass or victimise people with disabilities or their associates – including in employment.

The following information provides a brief overview of mental illness. It is important to have an understanding of what mental illness is and its possible effects on a worker as this helps you to be more effective in handling issues that may arise. However, you do not need to become an expert in mental health nor are you required to assess whether a worker has a mental illness.

First and foremost people with mental illness are people and therefore it is important to use 'people first' language when referring to a person with a mental illness.

I recently had the opportunity to address participants in the ALGA National Local Roads and Transport Congress on the role of local government in responding to the mobility and access needs of people with a disability.

Michael Small Senior Policy Officer in the Disability Rights Unit at the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission michaelsmall@humanrights.gov.au

The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ recently (May 2004) met with representatives from a number of small business organisations to discuss the draft Premises Standards. The purpose of the meetings was to provide additional information on a number of specific concerns that had been raised. The Commission followed up the meetings with a letter which is reproduced below.

NOTE: This document is issued by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department. The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ has put it here on its World Wide Web site for your convenience.

Yes. The difference in judgment and perception of life and events from when one is well to when one is psychotic is quite extreme, so anything that can be done to make this passage, and the return to wellness, a little easier is to be recommended.

Our response to the Key Issues for Comment contained in your Discussion Paper follows. You will note that throughout this document we have referred to "Advance Directives" as we feel strongly that this is a preferable term, for the reasons stated below.

In South Australia, the general terms 'advance directive', or 'living will', usually refer to any written statement that expresses a person's wishes and/or directions whilst of sound mind (ie not mentally incapacitated*), in advance of any possible loss of decision making ability that may occur in the future. Of the advance directives made by South Australians, only the following are legally…

The Public Advocate of Western Australia supports the concept of people with mental illnesses having significant and formalised input into the treatment of their illness. A pre-planning instrument such as a living will is a useful tool for people with fluctuating illnesses to contribute to their management while they are unwell.

The Public Guardian of New South Wales is the legal guardian of over 1300 people with decision making disabilities. Of these approximately 150 have a diagnosed mental illness. The arrival of the commission's discussion paper on living wills is therefore a welcome opportunity to consider the issue of living wills and people with an incapacity to make decisions.

There is a need for Living Wills in the area of mental health, and they must carry weight ie. Mental Health professionals must listen to and be bound by them.

At the age of four, I was taken away from my family and placed in Sister Kate's Home - Western Australia where I was kept as a ward of the state until I was eighteen years old. I was forbidden to see any of my family or know of their whereabouts. Five of us D. children were all taken and placed in different institutions in WA. The Protector of Aborigines and the Child Welfare Department in their …