Disclosure dilemmas: how people with a mental health condition perceive and manage disclosure at work

Purpose Little research has explored the process of disclosure decision-making from antecedents to outcomes. This paper presents a model of decision-making about disclosure of a mental health condition to the immediate supervisor in the workplace shortly after starting a new job. Methods A qualitative descriptive design was employed to explore participants' experiences of the disclosure decision-making process, the disclosure event itself (if applicable), and their perceptions of the impact of the decision on personal, interpersonal, and organizational outcomes. The transcripts were coded and analyzed using directed content analysis. Results Twenty-eight participants were purposively selected to represent different disclosure decisions, sex, diagnoses, and maintenance of employment. Analysis identified goals and conditions/context were important antecedents for the disclosure decision. All participants discussed concerns about prejudice and discrimination if they disclosed, and, for those who chose to disclose, high stress and anxiety were described during the disclosure event; however, supervisor reactions were generally described as positive. Conclusions Regardless of the disclosure strategy adopted, participants reported that their disclosure decision helped to support their self-acceptance and recovery. For those who disclosed, most perceived a positive response by their supervisor. However, the pervasive concerns of prejudice indicate there is still much work to be done.

Automated summary

This study explores the decision-making process of disclosing mental health conditions to immediate supervisors shortly after starting a new job. Findings suggest that goals and contextual factors are important antecedents to disclosure decisions, with concerns about potential prejudice and discrimination being prevalent among participants. Despite worries, most participants reported positive reactions from supervisors after disclosure.