Empirical Research
Impaired Faculty: Helping Academics Who Are Suffering from Serious Mental Illness
Reviewed By David Schwebel
Volume 7 - Issue 2
Apr 30, 2009 - 9:37:41 AM

Mental illness affects nearly every family, so it is unsurprising that some university faculty suffer from debilitating mental illnesses. Impaired professionals – whose illnesses prevent them from adequately performing required occupational duties – may behave in a range of highly concerning ways, including inaccurately computing student grades; overlooking important research or administrative deadlines; teaching classes while intoxicated; and many others. To cope, university administrators must confront impaired individuals and discuss solutions. Administrators have ethical and legal obligations to ensure job-related duties are completed competently. Administrators also should take steps to prevent mental illness among their faculty by decreasing work-related stress whenever possible.