The Disability Discrimination Act may contribute to
improving the acceptance of mental health problems. The
Act makes it unlawful for employers of 15 or more people to
discriminate on the grounds of disability. Disability is defined
as ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial
and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out
normal day-to-day activities’. Mental impairment in this context
refers to a clinically recognised illness such as schizophrenia,
manic depression, panic disorder or a depressive condition,
while long-term means having lasted, or likely to last, for at
least a year.