Factors associated with employment for mental health consumers.

Abstract

Research on work fo r people with psychiatric disabilities has typically examined the relationship of clinical variables to employment, and few conclusions have been reached. This study shifts the focus of in quiry to include environmental as well as individual variables. An analysis was carried out on the relationship of four variables to employment: em powerment, social support, organizational culture/climate and person/envi ronmentfit. Thirty-six consumers (N = 36) were recruited into one of two groups: (1) consumers who were employed in integrated settings ( n -17) and (2) consumers who had recently left their jobs (n = 19). Data analysis

Being candidates in a transitional vocational course: experiences of self, everyday life and work potentials

“…In spite of dissatisfaction for some with their placements, all participants identified the positive impacts that work had on their lives. Similar to previous studies about recovery pathways (Kirsh 2000a;Inman, McGurk, and Chadwick 2007;Gahnstrom-Strandqvist, Liukko, and Tham 2003;Gewurtz and Kirsh 2007), the results from this study indicate that satisfaction derived from achievement and mastery in doing serves to foster the development of self-esteem. However, an important message from the participants was their problems with balancing, such as their mental health situation and the right amount of challenge in their everyday life, and how certain experiences had negatively influenced their work history.…”

“…However, an important message from the participants was their problems with balancing, such as their mental health situation and the right amount of challenge in their everyday life, and how certain experiences had negatively influenced their work history. Their strong calls for a motivating, predictable working environment and flexible working hours match previous research (Kirsh 2000a), which presents a relationship between levels of work demands and job tenure.…”

“…A number of environmental factors have been highlighted such as meaningful and relevant interventions, service coordination, part-time jobs as an option, long-term support from family, friends, workmates and employment specialist, recovery expectations among providers, corresponding values and a good climate between the worker and the workplace (Kirsh 2000b;Henry and Lucca 2004;Kirsh, Cockburn, and Gewurtz 2005;Tse 2002). When service users have been asked about their primary motivation for employment, the internalized values of being a worker, the satisfaction of belonging to a normal, encouraging but challenging working environment, and the possibilities of revitalization and empowerment are described (Auerbach and Richardson 2005;Borg and Kristiansen 2008;Gewurtz and Kirsh 2007;Iannelli and Wilding 2007;Kennedy-Jones, Cooper, and Fossey 2005;Kirsh 2000a;Krupa 2004). The literature also echoes dilemmas of revealing one's mental health history, when it comes to timing, processes and consequences (Boyce et al 2008;Honey 2004).…”

“…As employment in modern societies is frequently associated with increased demands of productivity, dedication, effectiveness and effort, the arena of work has also been characterized as causing occupational unbalance and stress (Ross 1998;Honey 2004 Employment requirements Vocational rehabilitation research has followed two different directions: investigation of service users' work-related abilities and capacities, and studies of models and approaches effectiveness (Rinaldi et al 2008). Researchers have tended to focus on the individual's pathology, rather than the dynamics between the human, the work and the environment (Kirsh 2000a). Quite a few studies have revealed that the most consistent predictors of employment are recent work history, drive, self-efficacy (Gioia 2005;Marwaha and Johnson 2004;Rinaldi et al 2008;Bond et al 2001;Secker et al 2003;Catty et al 2008;Becker et al 2007).…”

Using the Empowerment Scale with Unemployed People in Lifelong Learning: Is the Tool Sound and Useful?

“…For example, Wowra and McCarter (1999) found in a sample outpatient mental health population that respondents with full-time jobs scored significantly higher on empowerment measured with the Making Decisions Empowerment Scale (Rogers, Chamberlin, Ellison, & Crean, 1997) than those without full-time jobs. Kirsh (2000), using the same scale with small samples of employed and unemployed mental health consumers, found no significant difference between the two groups. These two studies are only cross-sectional and no conclusion on causality can be drawn.…”