Mental Illness Disclosure in the Workplace: An Opportunity for Improvement.

Background: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on physical or mental disabilities and requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities who can perform their essential job functions. However, the ADA also states that an employer is not required to hire or keep an individual with a psychiatric disability if it poses a direct threat to his or her safety or the safety of others.

Objectives: To identify employers' disclosure requirements for mental illness diagnosis or treatment during the job application process and/or as a condition of ongoing employment, to determine disclosure requirements of state and federal licensing bodies, and to evaluate the legality of disclosure of mental health status.