Case report of integrated supported employment for a person with severe mental illness

OBJECTIVE. We illustrate the implementation of an integrated supported employment (ISE) program that augments the individual placement and support model with social skills training in helping people with severe mental illness (SMI) achieve and maintain employment. METHOD. A case illustration demonstrates how ISE helped a 41-year-old woman with SMI to get and keep a job with support from an employment specialist. An independent, blinded assessor conducted data collection of employment information, including self-efficacy and quality of life, at pretreatment and at 3-month, 7-month, 11-month, and 15-month follow-up assessments. RESULTS. The participant eventually stayed in a job for 8 months and reported improved self-efficacy and quality of life. CONCLUSION. The case report suggests that ISE could improve the employment outcomes of people with SMI. Moreover, changes in the participant's self-efficacy and quality of life were shown to be driven by the successful employment experience. Chan, A. S. M., Tsang, H. W. H., and Li, S. M. Y. (2009). Case report of integrated supported employment for a person with severe mental illness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 238-244.