ABSTRACT
People with severe mental health problems have the lowest employment rate for any of the main groups of disabled people. Healthcare professionals are able to identify the key social issues that impact on an individual’s employment and life chances, and where possible that they seek solutions. It is also important to keep in touch with ongoing policy developments, including those outside of the health system, in order to be able to give accurate information. Welfare benefits are a fundamental aspect of social inclusion and directly link to employment and housing. Services need to allow people to attain a range of personal goals, from full-time employment or education to volunteering to pre-vocational training, that support people towards increased independence and social inclusion, and also towards their individual aspirations. Mental health services have a crucial role to play in enabling people with severe mental health problems to gain and retain employment and improve community engagement.
