In this blog post, we welcome a member of our Board of Directors who has chosen to share her thoughts and observations on the subject of mental health stigma.
The Battle Against Stigma Starts with Us All
I am proud to be a member of the Board of Directors for CHOICE of NY. I believe in the mission. I believe in the philosophy. And I believe that we do wonderful work. I also am very aware of the stigma that many of our clients experience on a daily basis… just trying to live their lives and make their way. Stigma that only serves to put barriers in their way. What I wasn’t previously aware of is that even though I champion this incredible organization, I too can unintentionally proliferate stigma.
I run a publishing company and we were recently looking to hire some freelance editors. We put out a call on several online job search sites and watched as more than 100 applications flowed in. Then the jobs training specialist at CHOICE contacted me. Evidently, we had a client that Rudy felt would be perfect for the job. I was hesitant at first. I can’t even tell you why.
Rudy encouraged me to interview this client for the position. I viewed it as interview practice for her. I congratulated myself for supporting CHOICE’s “World of Work” program. What I didn’t know was that I was being given the opportunity to interview a very talented editor. Sharon had been an editor for a major publication ten years earlier. After experiencing a breakdown and being diagnosed with Bipolar Disease, Sharon took a break from the workforce. She floundered for a few years during which she lost her house to foreclosure.
Sharon came to CHOICE needing assistance with her benefits and an advocate to help her navigate the medical issues she was facing. After a few months, she knew it was time to get back in the “game” and she started looking for jobs. She found all sorts of roadblocks in her way. She didn’t have the tech skills she needed. She had a big gap of time in her resume. She needed a little extra encouragement and support.
Rudy introduced her to our jobs training program and started working with her to get her skills up to speed, apply for jobs and get herself out there. Not only has she found a solid part time position as an editor for a local publication, but she has become my company’s “GO TO” person for freelance editing. We’ve kept her busy ever since and out of all of the people we tried out for this position, she was by far the best.
It’s Worth Taking a Chance
The reality is there are so many people out there who are incredibly talented and highly employable but so many employers are “uncomfortable” about hiring people who struggle with mental health issues. We need to keep talking about it… keep sharing success stories… keep doing everything we can to break down the stigma that so unfairly prevents people from accessing opportunity… prevents people from even having the CHANCE to get ahead.
For me, it’s lesson learned! Sharon has been a valuable addition to my company, and I’ve become and even greater advocate and champion of the mission of CHOICE of NY.