Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

The number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders rose significantly in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we’re guessing it hasn’t decreased much since then. Job searching can be stressful and overwhelming, whether you have a mental disorder or not, and it’s important to approach your job search journey with self-compassion. Set realistic goals, take breaks, do activities that bolster your well-being, and lean on your support system (whether that’s friends, family, or mental health professionals) for encouragement and advice. The job search is a process, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.

Employers can help by implementing inclusive hiring practices like flexible interview scheduling, providing clear and supportive communication about the process, focusing on essential skills and qualifications rather than being overly demanding, and training hiring managers to recognize and accommodate mental health needs without bias.

After his son Adam’s death, Howie Gerver created The Adam Project, a free mental health resource. On the website, you can search content in a variety of ways, like search terms, filters like “job seeker” or “stressed at work,” or AI prompts like “I’ve got anxiety about finding a job and keeping the job.” It also provides access to free resources like assessments that can help users determine whether they have depression or anxiety. People looking for free mental health providers can find those providers based on zip code and the condition they’re seeking help with. All for free! This is a great resource for employers to make available to candidates, people who were recently terminated, or employees in general.

In this episode’s listener question, we’re asked whether it’s better to stay in the same organization or to move to new companies every few years. In the news, workers age 65 or older make up a larger portion of the age 55 or older workforce than they did in 2000.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• WHO Fact Sheet on Mental Disorders
• mindbridge.care
• The Adam Project
• HR Best Practices
• Email The Adam Project
• ”Trends in Labor Force Participation and Employment of Americans Ages 55 or Older”
• JoyPowered® Memberships
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®

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