“Work is good for me”: views of mental health service users seeking work during the UK recession, a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Despite economic recession, an IPS service was implemented and regarded as satisfactory to service users seeking work. Although many found obtaining employment difficult, they would still advise others that work is worthwhile, suggesting that the context of recession has not discouraged them.

Views and Experiences of Persons with Chronic Diseases about Strategies that Aim to Integrate and Re-Integrate Them into Work: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

“…Two mixed-methods studies were excluded because it was not possible to differentiate data obtained with qualitative and quantitative methods [ 41 , 42 ]; a third study was excluded because we could not clearly identify the views reported by PwCDs [ 43 ]. This led to a total of 24 publications included in our review [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. The flow chart of the study selection process is presented in Figure 1 .…”

“…Participants in the included qualitative studies were most often persons suffering from mental disorders [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 48 , 50 , 52 , 56 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 67 ]. Three studies included persons with musculoskeletal disorders [ 47 , 51 , 55 ], two studies persons with cancer [ 49 , 66 ], two studies persons with mental and musculoskeletal disorders [ 53 , 64 ], and two studies a broad mix of persons with long-term conditions [ 54 , 65 ].…”

“…Thirteen studies were conducted in Nordic countries: Denmark ( n = 4 [ 44 , 47 , 59 , 60 ]), Norway ( n = 3 [ 53 , 57 , 61 ]) and Sweden ( n = 6 [ 45 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 55 , 56 ]); nine studies were carried out in Belgium ( n = 2 [ 66 , 67 ]), France ( n = 1 [ 49 ]) and the UK ( n = 6 [ 46 , 48 , 54 , 58 , 64 , 65 ]); and two publications reported on one study performed in different European countries, namely Bosnia, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Poland, Spain and the UK [ 62 , 63 ].…”

“…A wide range of strategies to manage professional integration were explored in the included studies, for example, collaboration strategies [ 44 , 50 , 59 , 60 , 61 ], supported employment [ 45 , 46 , 52 , 58 , 61 ], job training [ 57 , 62 , 63 , 67 ] and Condition Management Programs [ 64 , 65 ]. Three studies explored the perception of participants regarding established actors in the management of sick-leave and return to work: the general practitioner [ 54 ], the social insurance agency and health care system [ 55 ] and legislation on return to work [ 66 ].…”

Claims for sickness and disability benefits owing to mental disorders in the UK: trends from 1995 to 2014

“…25,26 Although research with people with severe mental disorders suggests they want to work, the barriers are substantial and include symptoms of the mental condition, effects of treatment, a poor sickness record and lack of confidence. 27,28 There is a complex trade-off between providing security and dignity for people who are mentally incapacitated and unable to work, and creating a 'disability trap' that produces a culture of dependence and demoralisation. 29 It is a particular concern that individuals with mental disorders show an increasing tendency to be claiming sickness and long-term disability benefits, since it has been shown that such people are unlikely ever to rejoin the workforce.…”