Whether we like it our not, mental illness is a part of our reality. Nearly one in five adults experience mental illness in a given year and serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings annually.

Unfortunately, stigma is also a part of our reality. Although many people struggling with mental illness are capable and looking for work, their unemployment rates remain three to five times higher than their unaffected counterparts. It is clear that we are still not comfortable with these disorders in our offices.

Employers admit to their own skepticism with regard to working with the mentally ill. Various surveys of US employers show that half are reluctant to hire someone with past psychiatric history. Approximately 70% are reluctant to hire someone with a history of substance abuse and almost a quarter would dismiss someone who had not disclosed a mental illness.

More: Attn: Why We Still Cannot Talk About Mental Illness in the Workplace