Mental Health Issues - Supporting Disabled Members in the workplace

This briefing has been developed to help Reps who are supporting members with mental health issues.

Date Posted: 14 April 2011

Mental health problems include stress, depression and anxiety. There are other mental health problems such as psychotic conditions and schizophrenia but these are far less common and Reps are very unlikely to come across them in the workplace.

Someone with mental health problems may be entitled to the protection of the Equality Act (which from October 2010 replaced the Disability Discrimination Act).

Members with mental health problems may need the support of their Union. They may have poor attendance or performance and this may lead to them being disciplined under capability procedures or absence management policies. They may also find that aspects of their job make their condition worse.

Managers sometimes do not realise that members with mental health problems may have rights under the Equality Act.

This briefing explains the most common mental health problems. It also looks at how Reps can use the Equality Act to help support members in this situation.

To find out more about the work of the Divisional Equalities Forums and Usdaw’s equality work, or about joining Usdaw contact:

The Equalities Section
Usdaw
188 Wilmslow Road
Manchester
M14 6LJ
Tel: 0161 224 2804
email: womenandequalities@usdaw.org.uk

Mental Health Issues - Supporting Disabled Members in the workplace (SDA 002) was correct at date of publication April 2011.