What factors contribute to improvement in occupational outcomes in individuals with mental illness?

From the Guidelines

Improving occupational outcomes in individuals with mental illness requires a comprehensive approach that combines clinical treatment, vocational support, and workplace accommodations, with a focus on supported employment services, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychoeducation, as recommended by the American Psychiatric Association 1. The most effective strategy is the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, which integrates employment services with mental health treatment. This approach helps individuals find competitive employment quickly while providing ongoing support. Key factors that contribute to improvement in occupational outcomes include:

• Access to adequate psychiatric treatment, including medication management and therapy
• Supported employment services, such as job coaching and placement
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address negative thought patterns and develop coping strategies
• Psychoeducation to help individuals understand their mental health condition and develop self-management skills
• Workplace accommodations, such as flexible scheduling, quiet workspaces, and regular breaks, to improve job retention
• Employer education about mental health to reduce stigma and create supportive environments. According to a recent study, interventions that focus on weight management, exercise, and CBT can be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk among people with severe mental disorder 1. Another study highlights the importance of implementing occupational eMental health (OeMH) interventions, which use information and communication technology to deliver knowledge and services to employees 1. Overall, a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses both the symptoms of mental illness and the practical barriers to employment is essential for improving occupational outcomes in individuals with mental illness.

From the Research

Factors Contributing to Improvement in Occupational Outcomes

Several factors contribute to the improvement in occupational outcomes in individuals with mental illness, including:

• Supported employment interventions, which have been shown to be effective in assisting people with severe mental illness in achieving successful employment and health-related outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5
• Augmented supported employment, which combines supported employment with other interventions such as neurocognitive therapy and job-related social skill training, has been found to be more effective than standard supported employment in obtaining and maintaining employment 2, 3
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, a carefully specified form of supported employment, has been found to be effective in improving vocational outcomes for people with severe mental illness 4, 5
• Contextual factors such as intervention fidelity, settings, and systemic barriers are important considerations for intervention implementation and effectiveness 3
• Tailoring strategies based on individual needs and circumstances appears crucial to address the complexity of mental health recovery 3

Types of Interventions

Different types of interventions have been found to be effective in improving occupational outcomes, including:

• Supported employment, which involves trying to place clients in competitive jobs without any extended preparation 2, 4, 5
• Augmented supported employment, which combines supported employment with other interventions such as neurocognitive therapy and job-related social skill training 2, 3
• Prevocational training, which prepares individuals for employment through training and education 2
• Transitional employment, which provides temporary employment to help individuals transition to competitive employment 2
• Psychiatric care only, which provides treatment and support for mental health conditions but does not specifically focus on employment outcomes 2

Effectiveness of Interventions

The effectiveness of interventions in improving occupational outcomes has been found to vary, with:

• Supported employment being more effective than prevocational training, transitional employment, and psychiatric care only in obtaining competitive employment 2
• Augmented supported employment being more effective than supported employment, prevocational training, and transitional employment in obtaining and maintaining employment 2, 3
• IPS model being effective in improving vocational outcomes for people with severe mental illness, even in varying economic conditions 4, 5