Employment supports for people with mental illness

Abstract

People with psychiatric disabilities often require extensive support to maintain employment. The authors describe five areas that supported employment programs should carefully examine when creating a supportive workplace environment: "natural" co-worker supports, personal network supports, training supports, self-management supports, and organizational supports. The different support needs of persons with developmental disabilities and those with psychiatric disabilities are highlighted, particularly in regard to how social stereotypes of these two groups influence decisions about how to provide support. The authors also discuss strategies that can be used by transitional employment programs for creating more effective supports within the limitations of the transitional setting.