COVID-19 related factors affecting the experiences of neurodivergent persons in the workplace: A rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic offer possibilities to advance social justice. One such prospect is to make workplaces more inclusive of neurodivergence. OBJECTIVE: This research addresses the question of, in what ways might COVID-19 affect the experiences of neurodivergent persons in the workplace? METHODS: Conducting a rapid review, the author has applied thematic analysis to a total of 50 documents comprised of journal articles, news articles, and guides as retrieved from purposive searches of ProQuest Central, ProQuest Newsstream International, Google Scholar, and Google databases. RESULTS: Research results have revealed themes of challenges and opportunities, and sub-themes of accommodating (i.e., remote working, employee recruitment, retainment or advancement and/or access); and diversity and inclusion (i.e., acceptance, empathy and/or ERGs). CONCLUSION: This study has informed a baseline COVID-19-related guide to accommodating and including neurodivergence in the workplace. The review concludes by offering possibilities as to what a COVID-19 inspired 'new normal' might mean for supporting neurodivergent staff (and prospective staff).

Neuro magnifico! An exploratory study critically reviewing news text reporting of anxiety-related work performance strengths, challenges and support measures.

BACKGROUND: Progressive workplaces should be aware of emerging neurodiversity related issues. People are sharing their narratives of high functioning anxiety in a variety of forums. Despite news text reporting upon this phenomenon, the concept has managed to escape a research spotlight. OBJECTIVE: To critically investigate the evidence base of news article reporting of anxiety-related work performance strengths, challenges and support measures. METHODS: Thematic analysis was applied to news texts derived from CrossSearch database and internet enquiries and journal articles obtained from Scopus, Medline and Science Direct databases. RESULTS: The analysis of eight news texts and 36 journal articles produced evidence-based themes including those of work performance strengths (quality, quantity, creativity) challenges (overreaching, perfectionism, overthinking, communication) and support measures (medical, cognitive, physical, flexibility). CONCLUSION: This investigative review reveals that anxiety-related work performance strengths, challenges and support measures as identified within news text reporting of the high functioning anxiety concept have at least some basis in the literature. It might therefore be the case that organizations who invest in supporting employees who identify with high functioning dimensions of their anxiety disorders are the ones who are ultimately rewarded with work performance advantages.

A narrative review of mental health support for people during transition from incarceration to community: the grass can be greener on the other side of the fence.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant need for mental health services targeting the requirements of inmates transitioning into the community there is little research about successful recovery-oriented or person-centred transition programs. AIMS: This systematic narrative review brings together existing evidence to inform policymakers and practitioners about current practice in transition support, and barriers and facilitators of effective practice. METHOD: We carried out a systematic narrative review of recovery-oriented or person-centred mental health support programs supporting transition from incarceration to the community. Results were obtained from a systematic search of Medline, PubMed and Scopus databases. RESULTS: We found 23 papers which met the paper inclusion criteria along with four other papers which were identified incidentally. CONCLUSIONS: Identified barriers to the implementation of effective transition support programs are: administrative problems leading to ineffective in-reach into correctional facilities or untimely support, lack of support for immediate needs meaning that inmates deprioritise their mental health needs, a lack of ongoing program resources and poor communication between correctional facilities and mental health services. Enablers for transition reflect the inverse of these barriers, alongside other successful strategies including medical home models, regionalised programs, programs which target connections with primary care, nurse-led patient-centred health programs and peer support initiatives.

DESperately Seeking Service: A narrative review informing a disability employment services reform framework for Australians with mental illness.

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding efforts by vocational services to assist Australians with mental illness into employment many of these consumers remain unemployed. OBJECTIVE: To inform policymakers and practitioners of a disability employment services reform framework that endeavours to help more consumers who are experiencing mental illness to attain and retain employment. METHODS: Thematic analysis was directed to summarize results obtained from a narrative literature review of disability employment service reforms utilising Scopus, Medline and Pubmed databases and including articles published between 2000 and 2016. RESULTS: Research results reveal a preparative framework covering three levels of disability employment services reform for consumers with mental illness. CONCLUSION: This research makes important theoretical contributions across three areas. First this study reveals individualised, integrated and outcome-oriented services as dimensions of disability employment services reform that warrant greater government investment, practitioner focus and consumer involvement. Second recognising that none of these service reforms are immune from challenges which may hinder their effectiveness, future research is needed to identify evidence-based mitigation measures. Finally with individualised services positioned at the nucleus of the reform framework, integrated services and outcome-oriented reforms should be operationalised in ways that remain sensitive to the principle of strength-based support.

Disabling accommodation barriers: A study exploring how to better accommodate government employees with anxiety disorders.

BACKGROUND: Accommodating mental health in the workplace is challenging. Despite policy efforts to encourage the availability of mental health accommodations in the workplace, employees experiencing mental illness are missing out on accommodations that they need. OBJECTIVE: To inform vocational rehabilitation professionals and managers in the public service of best practice accommodations for government employees with anxiety disorders. METHODS: Thematic analysis was applied to data collected from the online Accommodating Government Employees with Anxiety Disorders Survey undertaken by 71 Australian public service employees diagnosed with at least one anxiety disorder. RESULTS: Our research results include theme and sub-theme representations of accommodations received, accommodations reported as missing, accommodations that study participants felt they couldn't request, along with rejected accommodations. CONCLUSION: From the study participants' accounts, three key findings supporting desirable vocational outcomes become apparent. First, that the availability of 'standard' flexible work arrangements, along with personalised accommodations, can assist persons with anxiety disorders (where needed) to reach and retain government positions. Second, the chief barriers reported to making accommodation requests revolve around fears of being stigmatised and penalised. Finally, there is a need for managerial decision-makers to remain open-minded, particularly when assessing requests for accommodations that may break from government norms.