Community mental health center staff attitudes about employment for persons with serious mental illness.

Abstract

To measure community mental health agency staff attitudes about employment for persons with serious mental illness. Methods: An online survey was developed and sent to 2,218 staff at 4 community mental health centers (CMHC) in 1 New England state. The survey collected quantitative and qualitative data about staff attitudes about employment for persons with serious mental illness. Descriptive statistics and qualitative results are provided. Results from analysis of variance are provided as well, assessing differences in staff views by staff characteristics. Results: A mix of clinical and administrative staff participated in the survey (N ϭ 221). Staff views on the benefits of work, the ability of clients to handle the demands of the worker role, and client motivation to work were mixed. Staff with higher levels of education held significantly more supportive views than those with less education. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: CMHC staff need to consistently convey supportive attitudes about employment to their clients. Impact and ImplicationsDespite concerted national and state-level efforts to promote employment among persons with serious mental illness, community mental health agency staff continue to hold less than positive views of employment as a recovery goal for persons with serious mental illness. State mental health systems interested in improving outcomes for persons with serious mental illness need to ensure that all community mental health agency staff are aware of employment related services and supports and are providing positive messages to their clients.

The attitudes of mental health professionals on the employability of people with mental illness: A different view limiting employment rehabilitation

“…Consequently, differing views between medical and social professionals may reduce the effectiveness of work rehabilitation programs, discouraging or confusing individuals who need to increase their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to work (Reddy et al., 2016 ), which is a requirement for individuals to develop an active and action‐oriented attitude toward employment (Brantschen et al., 2017 ). This research also confirms other previous studies (Brucker & Doty, 2019 ; Fleming et al., 2019 ) and shows that medical mental health professionals may have a negative belief that people with mental illness cannot and do not want to work. The results also support literature showing how some mental health professionals may consider that work may hinder the recovery of people with mental illness (Casper & Carloni, 2007 ; Hamilton et al., 2013 ; Marwaha et al., 2009 ; Mueser & McGurk, 2014 ) since both psychiatrists and nurses give importance to frustration originated from work.…”

“…Similarly, another recent study showed that only half of professionals strongly agree that people with mental illness want work and, most importantly, around the same proportion moderately agree that people with mental illness cannot work (Brucker & Doty, 2019).…”

“…Despite general opinions about the importance of employment for recovering a meaningful life (Gladman et al., 2015 ), a recent study suggests that medical mental health professionals consider people with mental illness to be less capable of carrying out full‐time jobs in 23% of the cases, 45% in part‐time employment, and the rest being incapable of any type of remunerated work (Fleming et al., 2019 ). Similarly, another recent study showed that only half of professionals strongly agree that people with mental illness want work and, most importantly, around the same proportion moderately agree that people with mental illness cannot work (Brucker & Doty, 2019 ).…”

Are attitudes in employees of public employment service in line with the principles of individual placement and support? A questionnaire‐based survey

“…This reflects the dominant implementation stance across the world where IPS is delivered by mental health services rather than PES’. The attitudes of health and social care staff has shown that they underestimate people with moderate to SMI' wishes to return to work and their capability to work, along with overestimating the risks connected to work related stress and fears of relapse (Boardman et al, 2003; Brucker & Doty, 2019; Marwaha et al, 2009). Training and exposure to IPS for health staff have been shown to result in more positive attitudes and behaviours towards supporting clients to gain and retain employment (Brucker & Doty, 2019; Craig et al, 2014; Rinaldi et al, 2011).…”

Social justice advocacy in mental health services: Consumer, community, training, and policy perspectives.

“…As such, individual recipients of mental health care delivery should be given opportunities to participate in collaborative, interdisciplinary decision-making processes. Many vocational and clinical staff at CMHC have positive perceptions about the possibility of employing individuals who have experienced SPMD (Brucker & Doty, 2019). A person who was once a member of the SPMD community could be given the opportunity to assume the role of a stakeholder with the potential agency to address the multisystemic factors moderating consumers’ mental health.…”