Psychosis is a general term to describe a mental health problem in which a person has lost some contact with reality. Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis.
Symptoms and characteristics
Psychosis is characterised by severe disturbances in thinking, emotion and behaviour that disrupt a person’s life. Personal relationships and employment can be difficult to initiate and/or maintain.
Psychosis often begins in late adolescence or early adulthood and the early symptoms involve behaviours and emotions which are common in this age group.
Schizophrenia is characterised by changes in mental function where thoughts and perceptions become disordered.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
There are various factors that would greatly assist people with schizophrenia or psychosis to better manage their symptoms in the workplace. These include:
- reducing or eliminating tasks where the safety of self or others could be at risk (e.g. driving a motor vehicle, operating complex machinery, or handling dangerous chemicals)
- ensuring a gradual introduction to new or stressful situations under appropriate supervision
- allowing flexibility in the workplace (e.g. leave for treatment and recovery purposes)
- providing a supportive work environment.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References and resources
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Mental Health Council Inc. & Kitchener, B., A. & Jorm, A., F. at ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne 2006, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace—an e-learning course, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.