An update on supported employment for people with severe mental illness

Abstract

Purpose of review Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an effective intervention for helping people with severe mental illness obtain competitive employment, yet it has not been widely implemented. This review will examine and summarize the latest research on IPS. Recent findings As the effectiveness of IPS has been well established in the literature, newer research is exploring nonvocational outcomes, such as quality of life and mental health services utilization and expanding the reach of IPS to include different countries and different population groups. There is also a growing literature exploring the cost-effectiveness of IPS compared with traditional vocational services, which has favored IPS. By far, the area of research that has expanded the most is aimed at enhancing IPS outcomes, at both the intervention level and the client level. Researchers are exploring the variance in IPS outcomes as a means of increasing competitive employment rates with IPS. Summary Although the field of research continues to expand, it is clear that many barriers remain to broad implementation of IPS. The solution goes beyond further research and involves policies and practices that support a recovery oriented mental healthcare system.

Exploring the potential cost-effectiveness of a vocational rehabilitation program for individuals with schizophrenia in a high-income welfare society

“…Benefits of employment include social integration, increased quality of life, higher self-esteem, and improved global functioning [4, 14–16]. A few cost-effectiveness analyses have also been undertaken showing a favourable effect of supported employment in terms of increased employment rates and reduced health service costs [10, 17–19]. However, due to large variations in costs of health and welfare services and income levels between countries it is difficult to generalise these results [20].…”

Stakeholder Perspectives on IPS for Employment: A Scoping Review

“…This is an important gap, as while research (e.g., Mueser et al, 2016) has shown the efficacy of the IPS model, access to high quality IPS programs are still scarce and there are many barriers to implementation. Furthermore, scholars have proposed that the next step should be to ensure the longevity of the positive results that can be obtained from the IPS model (Marino & Dixon, 2014; Luciano et al, 2014). Qualitative studies can help to inform the scaled-up implementation of IPS and to optimize its potential for further impact.…”

The social support, mental health, psychiatric symptoms, and functioning of persons with schizophrenia participating in peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation: a pilot study in Taiwan

“…Give the proven effectiveness of supported employment [12,13], peer support services have also been integrated into vocational rehabilitation systems for persons with psychiatric disabilities [14,15]. During the job match, peer support services delivered as part of supported employment offer individualized assistance, and the preferences of persons with disabilities are always respected [12,13]. Peer support workers draw from their own lived experiences to help persons with psychiatric disabilities overcome internalized stigma, lower self-esteem and/or self-e cacy at work [4,13].…”

“…During the job match, peer support services delivered as part of supported employment offer individualized assistance, and the preferences of persons with disabilities are always respected [12,13]. Peer support workers draw from their own lived experiences to help persons with psychiatric disabilities overcome internalized stigma, lower self-esteem and/or self-e cacy at work [4,13]. Peer support workers also serve as role models for persons with disabilities, by exemplifying the positive outcome that is achievable if persons with disabilities tap into their own predilections, potential, and advantages for employment through self-determination [14,16].…”