The following are eight major myths and facts regarding the impact of mental illness on the workforce:

Myth 1: Mental illness is the same as mental retardation

Facts: These are two distinct disorders. A diagnosis of mental retardation is chiefly characterised by limitation in intellectual functioning as well as difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, among persons with psychiatric disabilities, intellectual functioning varies as it does across the general population.

Myth 2: Mental disorders are just a figment of one's imagination.

Facts: Mental disorders are real. Mental illnesses and brain disorders provoke suffering, cause disability and can even shorten life, as is evident from episodes of depression after a heart attack, liver disease resulting from alcohol dependence or suicide.

In the year 2000, there was an estimated suicide death every 40 seconds. The underlying abnormal substructure of many disorders has been identified by images of the brain. Mental illnesses can be diagnosed and treated before it is too late. The symptoms are a sign of real illness.

Myth 3: Mental disorders are brought on by a weakness in character.

Facts: They are caused by biological, psychological and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can significantly contribute to the development of various disorders. Poor nurturing environments, whether the result of broken families or violence in the home or community, can result in an increased risk of mental illness.

Myth 4: Recovery from mental illness is not possible.

Facts: Long-term studies have shown that the majority of people with mental illnesses show genuine improvement over time and lead stable, productive lives. For many decades, mental illness was thought to be permanent and untreatable. People with mental illness were separated from the rest of society through institutionalization in mental hospitals.

As medications were discovered which helped to alleviate the symptoms of mental illness, there was a gradual evolution towards the provision of treatment and rehabilitation services in the community.

Myth 5: Mental illness only affects people in rich countries.

Facts: Mental and brain disorders are a concern for developed and developing nations. In a landmark WHO study of 27 developing and developed countries, no population was found to be free of schizophrenia.

Alcohol abuse is another common disorder that knows no boundaries. In Latin America, prevalence of heavy drinking ranges from 9.7% in Costa Rica to 35.6% in Paraguay.

Myth 6: Mentally ill and mentally restored employees (the term denotes when the disorder has been effectively treated) tend to be second-rate workers.

Facts: Employers who have hired these individuals report that they are higher than average in attendance and punctuality and as good or better than other employees in motivation, quality of work and job tenure.

Studies reported by US National Institute of Mental Health and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill conclude that there are no differences in productivity when compared to other employees.

Myth 7: People with psychiatric disabilities cannot tolerate stress on the job.

Facts: This oversimplifies the complex human response to stress. People with a variety of medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and psychiatric disorders, may find their symptoms exacerbated by high levels of stress. However, the source of personal and job-related stress varies substantially between individuals.

Some people find an unstructured schedule to be very stressful while others struggle with a regimented workflow. Some people thrive on public visibility or high levels of social contact, while others require minimal interaction to focus and complete tasks. Workers with psychiatric disabilities vary in their response to stressors on the job.

In essence, all jobs are stressful to some extent. Productivity is maximised when there is a good match between the employee's needs and working conditions, whether or not the individual has a psychiatric disability.

Myth 8: Mentally ill and mentally restored individuals are dangerous or violent.

Facts: The vast majority of these individuals are not dangerous or violent. Upon learning that an applicant has a mental illness, some employers may fear or believe that the individual is likely to become violent. This myth is reinforced by portrayals in the media of people with mental illnesses as frequently and randomly violent.

A scholarly review of the research literature by Cornell University [Ithaca, NY, USA] indicates that, "none of the data give any support to the sensationalized caricature of the mentally disordered served up in the media."

Original material from the Pan American Health Organization and the ILO/WHO publication, Mental Health and Work: Impact, Issues, and Good Practices.