Employment for people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness: Individual Placement and Support outcomes across 7 years of integrated service delivery and partnership

Background: Employment has a number of positive benefits for people who experience severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) including: increased self-confidence and wellbeing, development of friendships, community engagement and improved quality of life. Research shows that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is the most effective model supporting people with a serious mental illness to gain employment. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) across the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and Europe have shown that 61% of IPS program participants achieved competitive employment, compared to 23% of participants accessing other forms of employment support. There is very limited longitudinal data in this important area.

Objectives: To investigate service and consumer outcome data, from 7 years of integrated employment and mental health treatment service collaboration and partnership in a ‘real world’ Australian study.

Method: Demographic, hospital admission and employment outcomes data were examined.

Results: Overall (N=137) an employment outcome was achieved for 46.3% of program participants. Promising is that more than 50% of placements were still active at participant exit or contract cessation; job tenure therefore may be underestimated.

Conclusions: Despite some structural barriers to implementing an IPS program within the Australian context, people with SPMI can gain and sustain employment in various fields.