by Dannett Frey

Created on: December 25, 2008

The saner I become, the crazier the world is around me. How many times have we thought this when we have been at work? If we could ask at one of our interviews before being hired, "What are the mental health issues of those whom I will be working alongside?" Would we take the job?

It seems like a funny situation, but often times it is very serious and very overwhelming for those who work with a person with mental health issues. This begs the question; should persons with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health issues be allowed to work with the general public? No matter how you answer this question there will be conflict and derision.

Persons diagnosed or undiagnosed with mental health issues deserve to be employed where they are best suited; just as a person with no obvious mental health issues. This is the right of every person to have an opportunity to be employed and live as independently as possible. If there illness puts the person or any other persons in danger that is a whole other situation. But for the majority of persons with mental health issues, the severity of the symptoms affects themselves more than others.

There are ways that you can protect yourself from actions of those with mental health issues. The most important manner of protecting yourself is by setting up personal boundaries. This is crucial for all relationships you have in your personal and professional life. Identifying your boundaries and remaining steadfast in maintaining your boundaries is essential for successful employment.

How do you develop boundaries at work and still appear to be friendly and a team player? You do this by deciding ahead of time what you will and won't allow happening in your time at work. Ask yourself the following questions.

Do I want to share intimate details about my life: relationships, finances, health concerns

Do I want to have my co-workers share intimate details about their lives: relationships, finances, health concerns?

Do I want to come in early and stay late to make up for the work my co-workers are not doing?

Do I want to miss deadlines because a co-worker has a crisis?

Do I want to put my career or position in jeopardy because of someone else's illness?

Setting personal boundaries does not make you a bad person. If someone feels it does make you a bad person, you have to carefully look at what is behind their opinion. It may come down to their lack of boundaries and the frustration they feel because of it.

If you don't want to share your own personal

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