Mental health disabilities are not as visible as many other types of disabilities. You may not know that the person has a mental health disability unless you’re informed of it. Examples of mental health disabilities include schizophrenia, depression, phobias, as well as bipolar, anxiety and mood disorders.
A person with a mental health disability may have difficulty with thinking clearly, hallucinations, depression or acute mood swings, poor concentration, difficulty remembering, and apparent lack of motivation. If someone is experiencing difficulty controlling his or her symptoms, or is in a crisis, you may want to help out. Be calm and professional and ask the person how you can best help.
Types of assistance used: service animal, support person.
Tips:
- Be confident and reassuring. Listen carefully and work with the person to try to meet his or her needs.
- If someone appears to be in a crisis, ask him or her to tell you the best way to help.
For more tips on providing accessible customer service, please see our TDSB Training Guide on the AODA (193K 10/29/2019)
If you have any questions please feel free to email - accessibility@tdsb.on.ca