Advantages to Disclosure
There are 2 specific situations where disclosure can be beneficial, even for those individuals who may lean towards “non-disclosure” of their illness. The first is in cases where a history of mental illness is considered an asset to the position, such as in the mental health field, where knowledge of mental health services and resources and the ability to empathize with others are explicitly valued in the job posting.
The other occasion when disclosure may be advantageous is when applying for a position with a government agency or company adhering to the principle of employment equity. In this situation, there may be an opportunity to apply for a designated position as a candidate from a “visible minority”. Often this category includes aboriginal people and people with physical and mental health disabilities as key groups given preference for such a posting, though some research may be required to assess how many positions have been allocated and filled for various minority groups. For these positions, identifying that you have a disability can be made on the employment application, without giving specific details regarding the disability.