Imagine you have a respiratory condition. Imagine it’s a chronic or recurring condition, and you might have to get continuing medical treatment. You wouldn’t hesitate to get that treatment. You wouldn’t have to worry that it would negatively impact your chances of ever getting a job again.

Now, replace ‘respiratory condition’ with ‘depression,’ ‘anxiety’ or ‘personality disorder.’ You might hesitate to get treatment, because you would worry that it would negatively impact your chances of ever getting a job again.

It is unfair and unjust that employers treat mental health differently than physical health. Employers need to recognize that these discriminatory tactics in the workplace discourage those with perfectly treatable mental health conditions from seeking help, and society needs to recognize that there is nothing shameful about mental health or seeking help.

Numerous psychological studies have linked discrimination with a negative impact on emotional wellbeing, which only compounds the problem, according to an article published by the American Sociological Association.

Most people with mental health challenges are willing and able to work; however the nonsensical stigma surrounding mental health makes unemployment rates abnormally high – as high as 35 percent for those reporting anxiety, and higher for depression and other conditions, according to an article on Medscape.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helped pave the way for workplace equality, but when it comes to things like disability quotas, employers are actually more likely to hire a physically disabled person than someone reporting a mental health affliction. And while discrimination is illegal under the ADA, it does not mean it doesn’t still happen – as reflected by the huge differential in unemployment.

This discrimination and continued stigma around mental illness will prevent people from seeking mental health treatment, and it needs to stop immediately.

The fact is that nearly 70 percent of long-term depression sufferers were in full remission after 36 weeks of treatment, and 82 percent were showing strong improvement, according to an article published by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Furthermore, the American Psychological Association reports that therapeutic treatment is successful after a few months in most cases for those who suffer from anxiety.

While some mental illnesses, like physical illnesses, require long-term medication, this should not preclude a person from employment unless it stops them from meeting the job requirements. But the stigma around mental health is so great that it is treated nothing like physical health.

Employment discrimination should never frighten someone away from seeking help.

We, as a society, need to normalize asking for help with mental health. We need to prioritize looking after ourselves mentally as well as physically. We need to stop punishing the people who are brave enough to stand up and seek help.

More legislation in defense of mental health is needed. Further action needs to be taken by governments, unions and employers to stop employment discrimination.

We can do something about it too. We’re a family of Cougs, a huge, nearly-30,000 person family. We want our family members to get the help they need. Encourage your friends to seek help. Let them know there is no shame in asking for a hand sometimes.

If you’ve sought help, congratulations. You are part of a positive cultural change.

A greater cultural shift on how we think and talk about mental health desperately needs to happen. Why shouldn’t it start with us?