Increasing the employment rate for people with longer-term mental health problems

Abstract

Aims and methodTo examine the effects of implementing the individual placement and support (IPS) approach within four community mental health teams (CMHTs). Demographic, clinical and vocational data were collected through a repeated cross-sectional survey. Additionally, a service user experience survey was conducted.ResultsThe IPS approach appears to have a significant effect on the employment rates of service users; a higher proportion felt able to return to employment and a smaller proportion believed they were unable to work because of their mental health problems. Employment rates for service users appear to be independent of general employment rates.Clinical implicationsImplementing IPS appears to increase the employment rates in CMHTs resulting in increased service user expectations of being able to return to work.

Exploring why people with SMI smoke and why they may want to quit: baseline data from the SCIMITAR RCT

“…This finding is consistent with unemployment rates of up to 90% for people with SMI reported elsewhere (Rinaldi et al . ). These findings suggest that it would be useful if smoking cessation advisors worked with clients to help them find meaningful daytime activities in order to reduce the urge to smoke resulting from boredom.…”

Integrated Pathways of Care for Psychosis: An Overview

“…There is a relationship between employment and severe mental illness like psychosis. People with mental health problems, especially psychosis, are much less likely than average to be in paid employment (Rinaldi et al 2011 ) although they often wish to be. Vocational advice can include a number of different options like:…”

Long-term mental health care for people with severe mental disorders – the importance of workplace rehabilitation

“…IPS schemes have also been seen to be effective in routine practice (40,41). The introduction of an IPS scheme in mental health services in South East London showed a sig-nificant rise in people rates of competitive employment in people using those services, in an area that previously had high rates of unemployment (41,42).…”

“…IPS schemes have also been seen to be effective in routine practice (40,41). The introduction of an IPS scheme in mental health services in South East London showed a sig-nificant rise in people rates of competitive employment in people using those services, in an area that previously had high rates of unemployment (41,42). Rinaldi et al (43) showed that the integration of an IPS worker into an early intervention service for young people with first-episode psychosis could be done with good fidelity and increased the proportion of clients engaged in work or educational activity.…”

“…The multi-centre trials of IPS show that high local unemployment rates do reduce the effectiveness of the IPS programmes, but even in these conditions the IPS schemes perform better than control conditions (31,40). Whilst high unemployment rates may reduce the likelihood of attaining open employment, obtaining work is still possible and we need not abandon important vocational schemes as the effects of this barrier should even out across the economic cycle (41).…”