The issue of people with disabilities and employment is often a thorny one, especially when it comes to how a resume should be structured to effectively communicate the profile of the disabled applicant in a positive way. Unfortunately, people with mental disabilities still face many challenges in gaining adequate employment due to a lingering social stigma against any type of mental illness in the business world.
Those people who have suffered from mental illness in the past, including long bouts of depression, may have large gaps in their resumes which they may not know how to deal with. Some counselors will advise clients in these situations to engage in volunteer work as a way of filling these gaps and having something positive to put on their resume, but this may not be a viable option for people who are seriously ill.
Therefore, people with disabilities and employment difficulties may benefit from the job training and search support services offered by organizations like The Housing Connection in Australia. Some human resource professionals advise people who have struggled with mental illness in the past to spin it in a positive light on their resume and during an interview.
One of the ways they can do so is to focus on the hard work which they have put in to overcome these hardships and the courage which it took to seek help and improve their lives. This is sure to make a positive impression on many employers. Another option is to seek work with non profits or government agencies which specialize in mental health care, because for these positions a personal experience with mental health issues may count as a major plus.