Discrimination against patients with bipolar affective disorder in the labour market hinders their recovery. Bipolar disorder in Poland affects 1.5 per cent of the population, which is approximately 500,000 patients. Equal treatment and acceptance are essential for patients to function normally. However, the situation is further hampered by stereotypes still prevalent in Polish society. And although legislators have introduced solutions to make it easier for mentally ill people to take up employment, the final decision is always made by employers.
The labour law provides many facilities for employers who employ mentally ill people. Such an employer is entitled to subsidised wages and pension contributions. In addition, when training a person with, for example, BPAD, it is possible to be reimbursed up to 80% of the training costs. The employer is also entitled to reimbursement of the cost of adapting the workstation and reimbursement of the cost of furnishing the workstation. Mentally ill people who undergo treatment can work and live normally.
A patient who undergoes proper treatment recovers in most cases and the illness is not an obstacle to social relationships. Recovery is hampered by reluctance on the part of others and by the stigma of the illness. Shame and fear of rejection are the most common reasons for patients to hide their illness. But without talking about the problem, the patient cannot receive proper support. "Often it is the case that a patient undergoing therapy can work as well as any of us, be an efficient and committed person in his or her job. Employers must remember that the onset of symptoms of illness does not always entail sick leave.
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It all depends on the type of severity of the symptoms and the nature of the work performed," adds Professor Bogdan de Barbaro, MD, PhD, from the Department of Occupational Therapy - adds Professor Bogdan de Barbaro, MD, from the Department of Family Therapy at the Department of Psychiatry of the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Medicum. Friedrich Nietzche, Winston Churchill or Ernest Hemingway are just some examples of some famous BPAD sufferers who, despite their disorder, were able to find their way also in their professional lives. The acceptance and support of their environment allowed them to do so. Polish society still has many stereotypes about mentally ill people. The negative social perception of the problem results in patients often not admitting their illness, even if they have already been diagnosed, hiding it at work and in the family environment.
Counteracting stereotypes, continuous education and support for people with mental disorders are the goals of the educational programme 'Road to Self'. The second instalment of the programme, which focuses on patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was inaugurated in May.
