A strategy before implementing IPS model

What is it about?

We analyze existing facilitators and identified barriers over the programs helping people suffering from mental illness to find a job. Many perceived facilitators were related to some guidelines or key principles of the IPS model. Main barriers were lack of long-time job support, lack of funding, lack of communication between stakeholders, social or financial insecurity of the beneficiary, denial of their own disease, high hiring selectivity, and on-the-job requirements by employers looking to maintain a competitive workforce. The four points of divergence between participants in relation with IPS were (a) the (dis)advantages of internships and trainings compared to standard work contracts, (b) the risk associated with the communication of a medical diagnosis and the disclosure issue, (c) the best time to start a job search or to return to work, and (d) whether priority should be given to the search for an adapted job or the adaptation of existing jobs to the specific needs of the beneficiaries.

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Why is it important?

This publication gives some guidelines over how to help people with moderate to severe mental illness to find a job. The method used (confrontation of points of view) also helped to get deeper insights on certain themes than in individual interviews. This has the advantage of allowing decision makers who wish to initiate change not only to see how to build on existing strengths but also to analyze how to reduce the identified weaknesses.

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