New plan targets workplace attitudes to mental illness

Chairman of Lifeline Australia John Brogden AM has launched UTS's Access and Inclusion Plan 2015-2019, using his own experiences around mental health to draw attention to this growing area of concern in the workplace.

"My objective is that we start to think, feel and talk about mental illness in exactly the same way we talk and feel about physical illnesses," said Brogden.

Brogden believes there is still stigma around mental illness despite its prevalence (45 per cent of Australians will experience a diagnosable mental illness at some time in their lives and 2,500 Australians die by suicide each year).

"We've come a long way in talking about mental illnesses like depression. Yet all the research says the majority of people who have a mental illness will not tell their employer for fear of how they will be treated."

UTS's new Access and Inclusion Plan aims to be inclusive of all people of diverse abilities. More commonly known as a disability action plan in other organisations, the university has moved beyond current practice of making appropriate accommodations for people with disability to recognising the unique skills and abilities all members of the university community bring to the workplace and the individual needs they have to reach their full potential.

"People living with mental ill health are uniquely valuable in the workplace; many of our staff live with serious mental illness and other disabilities. This brings a level of creativity and innovation to our community that we would otherwise lack," said Equity and Diversity Officer (Disability) Arif Ongu.

Specifics of the plan are focused on creating structural and cultural change, in particular by demonstrating how the power of language can be used for inclusion rather than marginalisation. The term "people with disabilities" has been replaced with "people of diverse abilities" in the plan.

"It's about changing our culture to one that recognises we don't have a 'mainstream' that is responsible for the weak or needy within our community. Diversity is our mainstream, and it adds to the vibrancy of our institution," said Ongu.

Brogden highlighted the importance of bringing mental illness into the spotlight. "We need to adjust the way we start to think about mental illness. No one should be embarrassed about talking to their boss or fellow employees about it. In my workplace I talk about my depression very openly, and I encourage others to do the same.

"Speaking from experience, my recovery was a two steps forward, one step back journey; it was hard. It took me a good six to nine months to be able to look people in the eye and look for a new job. But I'm pleased that, 10 years on, people in senior positions don't have to resign or change careers due to these kinds of experiences."

The event included an address by UTS Professor of Management Simon Darcy, an Ambassador for the NSW Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign. Presented by the Department of Family and Community Services, the public campaign aims to promote more inclusive communities by changing attitudes that exclude people with disability.