|
Employment is highly valued in our society and can provide people
with significant economic, social and psychological benefits. When
people are employed, they perceive themselves – and others
perceive them – as productive individuals who are making a
valuable contribution to society. Conversely, it is widely
acknowledged that unemployment is generally associated with
negative health outcomes – including diminished mental health and
emotional well being. Employment then is an important
determinant for mental and physical health. Yet it remains the
case that mental illness can be a tremendous obstacle to an
individual’s attempts to find and hold employment. According to
studies, the rate of unemployment for people with serious mental
illness ranges from 75% - 89%¹.
Negative attitudes toward those with mental illness play a
significant role in the high unemployment figures².
Studies indicate that employers need assistance to understand how
to create supportive environments for persons with mental illness;
studies also show that many people in the work environment hold
negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities in general. In
order to change this picture there is a need for a multi-faceted
approach that includes the business community, the general public,
mental health consumers, their families, and those who provide
services to people with mental health problems³.
This text is taken from the Ministry of Health and Long-term
Care’s policy framework document entitled Making it Work.
To see the original sources of the information footnoted, please
view the original document.
The Ministry also identified the following as key program elements
that will establish comprehensive employment support:
- Job Development/Creation/Employer Outreach
- Skills Development/Training for Job/Education
This core element can be delivered through volunteering, job
coaching in unpaid or paid temporary placements with employers,
or through educational programs or apprenticeships.
- Skills Training on the Job
- Job Search Skills/Job Placement
- Employment Planning/Career Counselling
- Supported Education
- Supports to Sustaining Education/Employment
- Leadership Training
CMHA/Peel’s vocational services, which are offered across a
number of programs, address education, volunteering, and
employment of many kinds.
PAR Clubhouse’s
Employment
program offers various types of employment opportunities to
members. Employers
may wish to benefit from this service which guarantees zero
absenteeism.
Employment specialists also work with our
FACT Peel+, and ACTT
programs.
Through the Resource Centre, we also offer
management training to
businesses to help them learn to accommodate mental illness in the
workplace. |
