Therapies for unemployment

What is vocational rehabilitation? 

Vocational rehabilitation refers to any intervention aimed at reducing the high unemployment rates in people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses. Vocational rehabilitation may have wide-reaching benefits, including improved symptoms and personal achievement, and reduced ongoing health care costs. Two key approaches for rehabilitation are prevocational training and supported employment. Prevocational training aims to increase employability by providing community-based preparation before people enter into the competitive workforce (employment that is paid at competitive, or award wages); examples include “clubhouses”, transitional employment, work crews, and skills training. Supported employment aims to assist people with schizophrenia find and maintain a job by placing them in employment within the community (without preparation), and providing training on location as well as ongoing support.

What is the evidence for vocational rehabilitation?

Moderate quality evidence suggests vocational interventions, particularly supported employment, increase rates of competitive job placements  compared to standard care.

September 2020

Last updated at: 4:12 am, 21st September 2020
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