Meaningful work and recovery

Although you will encounter roadblocks and setbacks on the road to recovery, working at something that is meaningful to you can bring you a sense of purpose that will anchor you. Meaningful activity expands your sense of self-worth by adding to your skills and helping you accomplish your personal goals and feel good about yourself. Meaningful activity, which includes school, volunteer work, part-time work and full-time employment, also enables you to meet new people and make friends.

We all need some form of meaningful activity in our lives and a means of supporting ourselves, but having a mental health condition can be an obstacle. Mental health conditions impact different people in various ways. Some people with mental health conditions may never stop working; others find that their condition interrupts their career, and still others may be able to do only limited work.  As people recover from a mental health condition, they also face varied challenges in relation to work. Some people with mental health conditions find that they are able, with minor accommodations, to work in the same way they did before. Others may have to re-enter work gradually. And people on disability benefits will need to observe back-to-work rules when employed.

No matter your situation and no matter the hurdles you face, hold on to your goals for yourself and keep striving to incorporate meaningful activity into your life. In the past, people with mental illness were often discouraged from working, but today we understand that work is not only a possibility, but it can also play a vital role in recovery.

It’s true, however, that having a mental health condition can pose some practical barriers to working, such as having breaks in your career, feeling unsure of yourself, or needing to ask for an accommodation such as time for doctors’ appointments. You can figure out strategies to work around these barriers, often with the help of friends, mentors or an employment specialist. Don’t give up!

Supported employment services assist you in preparing to work, finding and keeping a job and thriving in a work environment. Depending on where you live, you might be offered supported employment help through the local office of your state’s vocational rehabilitation service, through the mental health agency where you get mental health services, or through a nonprofit disability employment agency. Because of local differences, be sure to check with all of these sources. Your state’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation should be able to help you find supported employment services.

In supported employment, a vocational counselor will help you assess your career interests, job skills, and work challenges. The counselor may suggest job categories that fit your interests, help you write a resume, coach you for interviews, and prepare you for what to expect if you haven’t worked recently. While you will get a lot of help, you will also be expected to work hard on solving problems, planning your career, and looking for jobs. Don’t expect to be handed a job or simply placed in work. The main responsibility will be yours.

The prospect of job hunting can seem daunting, and looking for work is like a job in itself. You need to put in regular hours and keep at it. Perhaps the biggest challenge is getting discouraged. In the competitive marketplace for work, expect to be turned down by many prospective employers before landing a job.

An important source of help that many job hunters in your community use is the local public employment office.  These days, such offices are typically called “career one-stop centers”. They offer a wealth of self-help resources on preparing for and finding jobs, computers you can use, and trained staff. Many have a staff person trained as a disability navigator who will understand the challenges you face and guide you to sources of help. Find your state’s network of employment centers.

Once you find a job, your next challenge is to keep it. Work is rewarding, but it also can be tiring, so be sure to get enough rest and care for yourself. Give yourself time to get used to the demands of working. Above all, it’s critical to use your support system – friends and family, your therapist or case manager and peer support group – so you can talk over your experiences at work and get help if your mental health condition is affected. Be sure to let your doctor know that you are going to work and get help in making any needed adjustments to medications as your situation changes.

What comes to mind when you think of a job? Is it working full-time, five days a week? If that prospect feels daunting to you, remember that there are other work choices to choose from. One of them might be more suited to your current abilities and stamina, and might be easier to find than full-time work.

Volunteer work

While many people want to have a paying job, volunteer work is another form of meaningful activity for many people with mental health conditions. Some people use volunteer work as a stepping stone to paid employment; volunteering can help them re-learn skills and grow comfortable working with other people. Others decide to volunteer instead of work. Volunteering not only gives you a sense of pride, but it can make you feel good about yourself to help out in the community.

If you have a cause that you feel passionately about, you may already know where you want to volunteer. Most organizations that have a lot of volunteers will have a coordinator who can help bring you on board. To find volunteer opportunities, you can contact your city or county information line for the contact information for a coordinator. You can also look for “Volunteer Clearinghouse” or “Volunteer Center” in a phone book. The Internet can be a great tool to search for volunteer opportunities; try visiting http://www.volunteermatch.org/.

Remember that just because you don’t receive a wage as a volunteer doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to fair treatment and respect. You should feel safe and comfortable in your work environment, and people should treat you like a human being.

Internships

When most people think of internships, they think of college students working for free for credit. Internships aren’t actually student specific; they are a blend of education and work. An internship usually involves a close relationship with other staff at a business working on specific projects and tasks. Where a volunteer might answer phones or bring food to homeless people, an intern might help a program staff member develop strategies to bring the food to the homeless. Sometimes the line between intern and volunteer can be blurred. Some internships will offer an hourly wage or a paid stipend, although such internships can be highly competitive. If you are a full-time college student, ask your career office whether they participate in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Recruitment Program. Recruiters interview college students with disabilities early in the year for summer intern positions.

If you are interested in an internship, make sure you ask your employer at the interview about the specific tasks and projects you will work on. You should expect to spend some of your time doing administrative work like filing, but you should also get a sense of a real opportunity to learn on the job.

Temporary employment

Temporary employment can be a good bridge to permanent work. You register with a temp agency that can then place you in short-term assignments in companies that need extra help. These assignments could last from a few days to several months and can sometimes lead to an offer of permanent work. By temping, you establish a current resume, sharpen your skills and test your own ability to return to work.

Part-time employment

Some people use part-time employment (working less than 35-40 hours a week) to transition to full-time employment; other people find that they prefer working part-time to working full-time permanently. Part-time employment can give you more free time to take care of yourself and your responsibilities. It may be more accommodating if you find that you need more time away from the office to handle your mental health condition. However, part-time employment usually pays less than full-time employment, and part-time work often comes without benefits.

Full-time employment

Many people with mental health conditions are able to work full-time. Full-time employment usually includes sick leave and may include health insurance, making it easier to handle health problems. Company retirement plans for full-time employees enable you to grow your savings. You may want to look for government work, as local, state and federal employers have a good record of hiring diversity and respecting disability regulations.

Finding employment, whether full-time or part-time, usually involves preparing your own resume and job-hunting in your local employment market. Job hunting can be discouraging for anyone, especially if job openings are scarce and there is a lot of competition. If you are having a hard time finding a job, you can look for help from an employment agency, supported employment services or close family members or friends. It is important to have support while job hunting; seek it from friends, from a job-hunting club, a support group, or a peer-run drop-in center.

Self-employment

Some people are not interested in traditional employment-working for someone else-but are able to work for themselves. You might want to start and grow your own business. Do you have a product or service that you can sell? Do you have a hobby or skill like jewelry making, baking, or playing and instrument? Can you provide a service such as lawn mowing, pet-sitting, or writing and editing?

Working for yourself enables you to set your own schedule, and avoids the problem of disclosing your condition that sometimes arises in the workplace. On the other hand, it demands self-discipline and for tax purposes, you need to track your expenses and income.

To prepare yourself, develop a simple business plan that outlines what you plan to sell, your customers, your competition, and your expenses. You can get help with starting your own business from local offices of the Small Business Administration, your county or state economic development office or craft guilds and associations. Also, be sure to contact your state’s vocational rehabilitation office for help with self-employment.

The Abilities Fund is an organization that provides assistance to people with disabilities interested in self-employment and entrepreneurship.