Workplaces are struggling to adapt to young employees’ mental health needs. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18-to-25-year-olds have the highest prevalence of serious mental illnesses compared to other age groups. Many young workers are looking to be covered by the Disabilities Act (which includes mental illnesses), and more are also reporting experiencing discrimination based on mental health conditions. Employers are being forced to examine their policies, as mental illnesses are “ambiguous, unpredictable, highly individualized and often invisible.” In some cases, employees don’t disclose their conditions to avoid stigmatization and instead request for more flexible schedules, or unpaid leaves of absence. (WSJ)
