It’s not easy to admit, but my behaviour when I was in the throes of untreated depression and revved-up mania wasn’t always easy to deal with. Not a surprise. Mental illness, when left untreated, can lead to behaviours that are frustrating for loved ones and co-workers alike.

As a cashier at Safeway, for example, I’d frequently call in sick (read: too depressed to get out of bed) the day before my shift, or more likely the day of. My manager would have to scramble to find someone to cover for me. At other times, I wouldn’t call in at all because I was in a manic state, on the precipice of psychosis.

But once I became an active participant in my recovery from bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, my relationships, my work, and my life began to take on a calmer tempo. I, along with my family, friends and co-workers, felt relieved.

When Untreated Mental Illness Enters the Workplace

But what about mental illness that isn't yet being managed—in those cases, what are co-workers to do?

This situation is challenging not only for the individual with the yet-to-be diagnosed condition, but also for those around them. Frustration can........

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