Employment supports: Perceptions of people with severe mental disorders

Professional rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness is a field of research often left aside. Despite the aspiration of people with severe mental illness to employment, their presence in the job market remains low. Lack of supports appears to be one explanation. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the types of necessary supports to maintain these people in employment. Six (6) participants have been recruited following a qualitative methodology. Ten types of supports have been identified and classified according to their direct association to work or to the residential or community environment. To conclude, the authors suggest a greater involvement from mental health workers in the identification and development of supports that favour maintaining these people in employment.