Mental Health and the ADA: A Focus Group Discussion with Human Resource Practitioners

In 1997, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new guidelines to clarify implementation of the mental health regulations under the ADA. This paper explores the impact of those guidelines on human resource practices in the workplace. Focus group discussions were conducted with human resource practitioners from over a dozen medium-sized, mid-western corporations. Analysis of the focus group discussions identified four primary issues: underreporting of mental health disabilities; the impact of demographic differences on mental health; misreporting of mental health disabilities; and the impact of the environment on mental health.