worried young man in a wheelchair being comforted by a counselor

The Connection Between Disability and Mental Health

For those living with a disability, it can be easy to focus so intensively on your physical heath that other considerations may fall to the wayside. The unfortunate reality, however, is that persons with disabilities are also at significant risk of developing mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But no matter the…

Illustration of a sad young woman with a dark cloud over her head

Overcoming Barriers to Getting Mental Health Help

In the era of COVID-19, a lot of attention has been given to maintaining physical health. However, mental health challenges are as pressing a concern as physical health, particularly in today’s era of uncertainty and social isolation. Unfortunately, access to consistent and quality mental healthcare is not always easy to find. This article looks at…

Personal story - I have OCD

I Have OCD

By Dan Jolivet Editor’s Note: Dan Jolivet’s very personal story about his experience with being a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder captured our collective attention immediately. This is a story everyone should read. Dan is honest and vulnerable, and you will gain perspective from Dan’s observations. [Note: The author’s representations here solely reflect his personal opinion…

Research: Mental Health in the Time of the Coronavirus: The Plight of the Long-Term Disabled

From The CDA Research Files: Mental Health in the Time of the Coronavirus: The Plight of the Long-Term Disabled

By Fred Schott Editor’s Note: In this fourth installment in The Council for Disability Awareness’ research mini-series, Fred Schott reviews the state of American adults’ mental health during the last quarter of 2020. I’ve always been interested in the topic of mental health, but never has it been more interesting to follow than during the…

Research - What The Household Pulse Survey Told Us About The State of U.S. Mental Health

From The CDA Research Files: What the First 10 Weeks of The Household Pulse Survey Told Us About The State of U.S. Mental Health

By Fred Schott Editor’s Note: This article is #2 in a multi-part series on research conducted by The Council for Disability Awareness prior to and throughout the pandemic. During April 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau, together with five federal agencies, launched an experimental survey “designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure household experiences…

Research: Data and insights from the CDA

From The CDA Research Files: How Anxiety and Depression Impacted Employee Absence Before the Pandemic

By Carol Harnett Editor’s Note: The Council for Disability Awareness – led by Fred Schott and its research committee – has closely monitored the impact of mental health on short-term, long-term, and individual disability claims for several years. Given the exponential increase in attention the pandemic and recent societal events brought to this topic, we…