Last Updated: 10/30/2026
Returning to work, looking for a new job or managing an existing position can bring questions about more than your skills and experience. You may wonder how a work schedule will fit around treatment, how to manage stress during a job search or what support is available if your mental health affects your ability to work.
If you are living with a disability, mental health resources can help you address these concerns while you consider your employment goals. You do not have to rely on a single resource for each need. Mental healthcare can support your well-being, workplace accommodations may address disability-related challenges at work and employment services can help you explore work options.
Understanding how these resources work together can give you a clearer picture of the support available as you consider your next steps.
What mental health resources are available to me?
Mental health support can come from several sources, depending on the type of care or assistance you are looking for.
Therapists, counselors and psychiatrists provide professional mental health care and support. If you are experiencing anxiety about returning to work, adjusting to changes in your health or managing stress that affects daily life, a mental health professional may help you address those concerns and identify strategies that may work for you.
You may also find support through peer groups. Connecting with people who have similar experiences can provide opportunities to share concerns and learn how others approach challenges involving health, employment and daily life. Peer support works alongside professional care but does not replace mental health treatment when it is needed.
Your health coverage may help make mental health care more accessible. Private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare may cover certain mental health services, depending on your coverage and eligibility. If you are employed, your employer may also offer an Employee Assistance Program that provides short-term counseling, referrals or other support. Available services and costs vary by program, so it is important to check with your health plan to understand what is available to you.
If you are unsure where to begin, several resources can help you find mental health care and support that may meet your individual needs:
- FindTreatment.gov: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers this confidential, anonymous tool to help you locate mental health and substance use treatment providers and services in your area.
- Open Path Collective: This nonprofit network helps people find therapists who offer reduced-rate sessions for individuals who have limited access to affordable mental healthcare.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Provides mental health information, education, support programs and resources for individuals and families.
- Mental Health America (MHA): Offers mental health information, screening tools and resources to help people understand their mental health needs and explore support options.
Where can I find immediate support during a mental health crisis?
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by phone or text at 988, or through online chat. The service is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Other resources include:
How can I find mental health support that fits my needs?
Finding the right support involves more than locating a provider. The service also needs to fit your individual needs and circumstances, including your budget, scheduling, accessibility and the type of support you are looking for.
For example:
- If fatigue, mobility limitations or transportation make in-person appointments difficult, telehealth may offer another way to access care.
- If you need communication accommodations or an accessible office, those details may affect which providers are a good fit.
- Appointment availability can also matter when you are balancing treatment with job searching or work responsibilities.
- Providers may accept different insurance plans or have specific eligibility requirements. Understanding potential out-of-pocket costs and available appointment times can help you assess whether a service is right for you.
- Some providers have experience supporting workers with disabilities who are balancing mental health needs and employment goals. Asking about a provider's qualifications and experience can help clarify whether their approach fits your needs.
Considering these factors can help you identify mental health support that is accessible, affordable and aligned with your needs as you manage your well-being and employment goals.
What mental health support can help as I return to work?
Your concerns may change depending on where you are in your employment journey. The type of support that helps during a job search may differ from what you need after starting a new position.
If you are considering a return to work, you may have questions about your readiness, confidence, energy levels or ability to balance work with treatment. A mental health provider can help you address emotional concerns, while an employment service can help you explore job options and consider how different responsibilities may fit your goals.
If you are looking for a job, applications, interviews and uncertainty about the hiring process can add pressure. You may also have questions about explaining employment gaps or discussing workplace needs. Counseling or peer support can provide a place to address stress, while job-search assistance can help you prepare your resume, practice interviews and identify opportunities that match your experience.
If you are starting a new position, adjusting to new responsibilities, schedules and workplace expectations may take time. Mental health support can help you manage stress or other emotional challenges, while workplace communication and reasonable accommodations, when appropriate, may help you manage disability-related needs.
If you are already employed, ongoing stress or changes in your health may affect your experience at work. Support may include continued mental healthcare, reasonable workplace accommodations or assistance with employment-related support as your needs evolve.
These situations show how mental healthcare and employment support can address different needs while working together toward your overall well-being and employment goals. A mental health professional can support your mental health needs, while an employment professional can help you navigate questions about job options, workplace expectations and career goals.
What workplace accommodations and disclosure options are available?
Sometimes, the challenge is not finding a job but determining what support could make a job more manageable. Reasonable workplace accommodations may help address disability-related needs and support your ability to perform your job, depending on your individual circumstances and the position.
Possible accommodations include:
- Schedule adjustments
- Assistive technology
- Changes to the work environment
- Modifications to how certain tasks are completed
You generally do not have to disclose your disability to an employer. However, if you request a reasonable workplace accommodation, you may need to provide information about your disability-related needs and how the requested accommodation may help you perform your job.
How can an Employment Network help me?
Mental healthcare can support your overall well-being, but it may not answer your questions about returning to work. You may also need information about job options, preparing for interviews or how working may affect your disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers the Ticket To Work (TTW) Program, a free, voluntary program for eligible adults ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Through the program, you can access employment services from approved providers, including Employment Networks (ENs).
Allsup Employment Services (AES) is an EN that helps you explore employment and work toward your goals. Services include:
- Resume development
- Job-search assistance
- Interview preparation
- Help identifying transferable skills and realistic job goals based on your abilities
- Assistance in understanding workplace accommodations
- Benefits counseling
- TTW Program guidance
For example, if you are considering returning to work but feel uncertain about where to begin, AES can help you explore employment options and identify ways to prepare for a job.
If you receive SSDI, you may also have questions about earnings, work incentives and health coverage. AES can help you understand the rules and benefit considerations based on your situation.
Employment services do not replace mental health treatment. Working with an EN while receiving mental healthcare can provide complementary support, helping you address your well-being and navigate practical questions about employment and your return-to-work goals.
