Approaches to improving employment outcomes for people with serious mental illness

Abstract

The past 20 years have witnessed the advancement of a range of innovative and promising employment initiatives for people with serious mental illness (SMI). This chapter provides a brief review of current approaches to improving employment outcomes for people with SMI. It begins with an overview of principles that provide a shared philosophical foundation for the development of these employment approaches. The chapter then offers a brief overview of three distinct approaches that have demonstrated considerable success in securing and sustaining employment for people with SMI: the Individual Placement and Support model; the community economic development approach; and the creation of affirmative employment opportunities within the mental health system. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.