Purpose

This study aims to review how the mental ill-health of academic staff is regarded in higher education institutions (HEIs) and explore the decision to disclose (or not) a mental health condition whilst working in this sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The choice to disclose is explored by using duoethnography undertaken by two female academics working in this context who both experience mental ill-health. Both authors recorded their experiences, which were then shared with each other and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The themes that emerged from the authors’ reflections comprise: a discussion of the connection between work-life identities and the impact of mental ill-health in the workplace; a consideration of the elements that influence our decision to disclose (or not) mental health diagnoses within HEI; and an examination of the additional burden of identity work for those who experience mental ill-health.

Originality/value

The study contributes to this evidence base by exploring the choice to disclose a mental health diagnosis in HEIs. It investigates this highly personal decision and suggests that this choice depends on the context in which we are located and how we experience our different identities in the workplace. Furthermore, it highlights the importance for HEIs to develop positive employment practices to support academic staff with mental ill-health to disclose a mental health condition and to achieve a good workplace environment whilst emphasising the need for more empirical work to explore the decision to disclose (or not) in this sector.

中文翻译：

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在英国高等教育机构中选择披露（或不披露）心理健康不良状况的选择：两名女性学者的十二指肠造影

目的

这项研究旨在回顾高等教育机构（HEI）如何考虑学术人员的精神病，并探讨在该部门工作时是否披露（或不披露）精神健康状况的决定。

设计/方法/方法

由两名在此背景下工作且均患有精神疾病的女性学者进行的人种志研究，探索了公开的选择。两位作者记录了他们的经历，然后彼此分享并使用主题分析进行了分析。

发现

从作者的思考中得出的主题包括：讨论工作生活身份与工作场所精神疾病的影响之间的联系；考虑影响我们决定在HEI中披露（或不披露）精神健康诊断的决定的因素；以及对精神疾病患者的身份工作的额外负担进行检查。

创意/价值

这项研究通过探索选择公开HEI中的心理健康诊断的方式，为这一证据基础做出了贡献。它调查了这个高度个人化的决定，并建议这种选择取决于我们所处的环境以及我们在工作场所中如何体验我们的不同身份。此外，它强调了高校必须发展积极的就业实践，以支持患有精神疾病的学术人员披露精神健康状况并实现良好的工作环境，同时强调需要开展更多的经验性工作来探索披露决定的重要性（或不）。