Summary
The fact that the participation of people with mental health problems in the workforce is often hampered is not only due to their health problems. An important barrier for work participation is the stigma that is associated with mental health problems. Several studies have shown that employers commonly express negative attitudes towards employees with mental health problems, which can negatively affect the career opportunities of these workers. For fear of being stigmatized, workers prefer not to discuss their mental health problems at work. Therefore, both employer and employee miss out on the opportunity to arrange temporary work adaptations that could prevent long term absenteeism. In addition, anticipated discrimination and self-stigma discourage workers to take relevant actions that increase their chances of successful work participation, such as applying for work or training. In conclusion, if we wish to enhance work participation of people with mental health problems, we need to acknowledge the negative impact of stigma and to develop knowledge and effective interventions to combat its effects.