Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112700

Jane Burke-Miller, MS¹, Judith Cook, PhD¹, and Paul B. Gold, PhD². (1) Department of Psychiatry/Mental Health Services Research Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, 104 South Michigan Ave, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60603, (2) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Division of Public Psychiatry, P.O. Box 250861, Charleston, SC 29425, 843-792-6892, goldpb@musc.edu

Research indicates that employment is generally protective of health and well-being. Among people with severe mental illness (SMI), employment is also beneficial in terms of therapeutic gain, alleviation of poverty, and enhanced quality of life. Yet, people with SMI experience rates of unemployment far higher than the general population. In addition, demographic characteristics such as age, education, work history, gender, and race/ethnicity are differentially associated with employment. Research indicates that supported employment (SE) is effective in helping people with SMI obtain employment, however, SE is not widespread and, despite its efficacy, unemployment rates among its recipients remain relatively high. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between demographic characteristics, SE, and employment status among people with SMI, to identify factors useful for tailoring evidence-based practice models to better meet subgroup needs and improve outcomes. Data are from 1273 participants followed for 24 months in a multi-state randomized trial of SE. Multivariate mixed-effects regression analysis was used to model longitudinal employment status. Results indicate that while SE improved vocational outcomes for all study participants, there were additional variations associated with individuals' demographic characteristics. Those with more recent work history, younger age, and higher education were more likely to achieve competitive employment and to work more hours, while race and gender effects varied by type of outcome. These findings support the notion that employment interventions for people with SMI occur in the larger context of predictors of general labor force behavior, which should be considered in implementing evidence-based SE policies and practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe ways in which the labor force participation of people with severe mental illness is similar to and differs from that of the general population.
• Discuss the implications of general labor force trends for evidence-based supported employment practice.
• Develop ways to tailor evidence-based supported employment policy and practice to enhance employment outcomes among people with severe mental illness.

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Disability Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.