Perceptions and Practices of Mental Health Professionals Regarding the Employment of People with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of Supported Employment (SE) is an evidence-based practice that leads to successful employment outcomes for people with serious mental illness. Customized Employment (CE) represents the evolution of supported employment as a strategy to also facilitate employment outcomes for people with the most significant disabilities. Interagency Collaboration is another strategy that facilitates successful employment outcomes for people with the most significant disabilities as demonstrated by research. The literature indicates that supported employment (IPS and CE) services along with interagency collaboration are practices that increase the employment outcomes for individuals with the most significant disabilities. However, the practical application and implementation of these three services/practices is limited in the Southern region of the United States. This study looked at the perceptions held by and practices used by mental health and other rehabilitation professionals regarding the employment of individuals with serious mental illness at two sites in Alabama. Results of this study provide a rich description of the sample as well as the participants’ knowledge of IPS. A statistically significant association was identified for acceptance, support and value of an employment specialist among mental health team members, and a statistically significant relationship between responses for perceptions and practices of mental health professionals related to the employment of people with serious mental illness.